Albania in blackout due to defect in importing network

TIRANA, Feb. 6 – Albania was in a total blackout early morning Tuesday due to a defect in a transmission line that imported power from Kosova, the power corporation head said. The blackout was for about two hours until 7 a.m. local time but the state-owned Albanian Electro-Energy Corporation, or KESH, managed to repair it “in a record time,” according to Andi Beli, adding Albania has also a different operating network which may cause such blackouts. Kosova was obliged to shut down the exit to Albania as its system was not operating normally with that intensity of the import. Beli said that it is very likely that such blackouts occur again. Albania is in a serious electricity crisis in more than two months due to difficulties in importing and domestic production. The country bases its power production at the hydropower stations that have suffered from a dry weather this autumn and winter and it has also limited importing capacities.
At the moment Albania imports 10.5 million kwh and produces 7 million kwh, an amount which has imposed shutdowns of up to 18 hours daily in rural areas. KEZSH increased imports earlier in January trying to preserve water in the reservoirs of the hydropower stations in Drini river in the north. The shutdown of imports from Bulgaria has caused a serious electricity crisis in the Balkan country. KESH has imposed up to 18-hour daily power cuts throughout the country due to difficulties in importing and domestic production. Many energy experts and former senior officials in the sector have called on the government to declare a state of emergency and ask for international help to provide energy to the country. Since 1990, the former communist nation has suffered regular electricity troubles due to poor management, an outdated distribution system and lack of money because of unpaid bills.
Ymer Balla, head of the Energy transmission organization, said that the international tender for the interconnection 400 kW line Elbasan-Tirana would be launched this month. The three projects included in the tender will use a 51 million Euro funding from the Italian government. That will help a better transmission and security in the power network based on the EU parameters. Balla also said that the Tirana-Podgorica 400 kW line will start to be built within half this year. The tender for the winning bid has been prepared by the German KfW and they are trying to select which one is the best between German SAG and Croatian Darleco Vod two winning companies. The KfW has funded the project with 42 million Euro. It is expected to be completed next year. The line is 168 kilometers long and 128 kilometers out of it are in the Albania land.