TIRANA, Feb. 7 – The government approved this week construction of two hydropower plants on the Osum canions even though the area is a natural monument, the plants’ location is inconsistent with the coordinates of the construction permit documents and despite Prime Minister Edi Rama’s past reaction to such kind of constructions as “barbaric.”
Local media published documents showing the government’s hydropower plants’ construction permit, although experts, civil society representatives and even politicians have warned it would have devastating environmental effects.
Last March, former head of parliament and current President Ilir Meta asked Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Ministry of Energy and former Minister of Environment Lefter Koka to suspend the project.
Last month, Minister of Tourism Blendi Klosi also officially urged the ministry of energy to suspend the concessions for hydropower plants on Osum on the grounds they are legally inconsistent and due to their devastating environmental effects for the area, which should be protected.
The hydropower plant project dates back to 2013, when the Democratic Party (DP) was in power. A week before losing elections, the DP approved a concessionary contract for the construction of two power plants in Bigas-Veleshnja.
With the Socialist Party (SP) coming to government, the project was suspended.
At the time, Prime Minister Edi Rama said building numerous power plants is “crazy,” especially in protected areas, and accused then Prime Minister Sali Berisha of corruption.
The recent reportage made by Top Channel, however, showed the Ministry of Energy did not in fact suspend the concessions, but rather approved a new contract with HP-Bigas-Veleshnja Energy.
The new contract foresees an increase in power of the Bigas-Veleshnja hydropower plant from 0.5 to 1.2 mega and the construction of an additional plant.
According to a leaked memo sent by the National Agency of Protected Areas to the Ministry of Environment, the environmental permit for the construction of the plants has legal inconsistencies, as well as altered construction coordinates.
The environmental permit is issued by the agency as one of the most important permits in approving a project, as it needs to certify the environmental impact of any given project.
The legal inconsistencies and coordinate changes make the permits illegal, according to the National Agency of Protected Areas.
In addition to being one of the most beautiful natural areas in the country, Osum has also boosted the economy lately by promoting tourism and fostering the possibility to open businesses in the area surrounding it.
