Electricity production increases by 50%

TIRANA, August 31 – Albania’s electricity production registered a considerable increase during the first half of 2010 mainly because of a 52 percent rise in hydroelectricity which accounted for 98 percent of the total produced electricity, according to a report.
Data published by the country’s national Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) showed electricity produced by all kinds of energy sources increased by 27.6 percent year-on-year during the first six months of 2010.
Albania produced a total of 4,554 GWh of electricity during the first half of 2010, accounting for 96.2 percent of the total energy, said INSTAT in a report.
A considerable increase was also reported in private hydropower plants operating under concession contracts whose electricity production rose by 53.9 percent year-on-year.
The country’s thermal power plants, the old Fier and the newly built Vlora plant were not used to produce electricity.
Favoured by the good hydro situation in the country’s northern Drin river cascades, the country’s electricity exports were sharply reduced during the first half of this year.
Imports (including electricity exchanges) dropped by 76 percent compared to the first half of 2009. Albania imported 177 GWh in the first half of 2010, accounting for 3.7 percent of the total electricity, down from 19.8 in the first six months of 2009, said INSTAT.
However, losses in the electricity grid rose by 3.7 percent in the first half of 2010. Electricity losses increased by 3.7 percent reaching 1,285 GWh, accounting for 27.2 percent of power available for use. Distribution losses make up the major share of 88.9 percent of losses in the electricity grid.
INSTAT data showed household electricity consumption increased by six percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, electricity consumed by other users increased 11.9 percent.
Data show the Albania Power Corporation (KESH) managed to collect around 75 million euros from electricity exports during the first half of this year because of heavy rains improving the situation in the country’s hydropower plants.
As of January 1 this year, electricity prices have increased by 13 percent.
The Energy Distribution System Operator (OSSH) privatized by Czech company, CEZ, had requested a 24 percent price increase in electricity for 2010 but the Energy Regulatory Entity approved only a 13 percent increase.