France’s CNR completes first HPP investment

TIRANA, June 6 – France’s CNR has officially completed its first hydropower plant investment in Albania and now targets the privatization of the four other small and medium-sized HPPs.
This week the French electricity production company whose production is certified 100 % renewable inaugurated the Dardha HPP in the northern district of Puka, a Euro 7 million investment with a capacity of 5.8 MW. The HPP built under a 35-year concession contract with the Albanian government will produce enough electricity for an estimated 6,000 Albanian households.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony CNR director Yves de Gaulle expressed the company’s interest in the privatization of the Bistrica 1, Bistrica 2 and Ulez and Shkopet HPPs.
French ambassador Christine Moro described CNR’s arrival as a new stage in the French-Albanian economic cooperation.
“We are on the right track .and this has been made possible through better recognition of Albania’s potentials in France, with the contribution of the embassy’s economic services but also French enterprises operating in Albania and the recently established French-Albanian Business Club,” said Moro.
France’s CNR is one of the three companies which has been qualified to submit bids on the privatization of the four HPPs power of 77 Megawatts, accounting for 5.3 percent of hydro electricity produced by state run Power Corporation KESH.
Austria’s EVN and Verbund which have formed a joint venture to build a giant HPP in northern Albania are also competing separately.