TIRANA, Nov. 19 – Austrian power utility power EVN has submitted a binding offer for a license to build three hydropower plants in Albania with combined capacities of 400MW.
In July, the Albanian government cleared the way for EVN to build hydro plants to generate more than 1000 GWh per year on its Devoll river after the company undertook feasibility studies in the preceding months into the possibility of building three peak-storage plants on the river.
That approval was the first step in developing the ‘sizeable’ hydro power potential of Albania, and it launched a definitive tendering process. Its deadline was November 19 for offers to build the plants.
In January, a pact was signed between the government of Albania, the federal province of Lower Austria and EVN on energy development. The feasibility studies were then begun and the package of three plants is the first product of the pact.
EVN hopes to develop energy schemes in south east Europe in a similar model to that in Lower Austria with a mix of hydro, renewables and thermal resources.
