Albania-Kosovo interconnection on track to finish by 2016

TIRANA, Dec, 17 – The Albania- Kosovo interconnection line is on track to finish by spring 2016, Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri has said inspecting reconstruction works which are being carried out by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Energoinvest and financed by Germany’s KfW development bank.
“This line which unifies the Albanian and Kosovo energy markets increases energy security and stability of prices for consumers,” said Gjiknuri.
Engjell Zeqo, the director of the Transmission System Operator said the interconnection line would allow the hydro-dependent Albanian electricity system to import from Kosovo which relies on thermal power plants and plans to build several new lignite-fuelled plants.
The KfW-funded project linking Albania to Kosovo would complete Albania’s connection to its neighbors, after implementation of the 400 kw Tirana-Podgorica interconnection line, linking Albania to Montenegro.
The euro 28-million prroject is expected to finish in April 2016.
The project had been delayed by more than one year after a dispute related to the bids submitted by two companies, Croatia’s Dalekovod which offered 36 million euros and was initially announced the winner and Bosnia’s Energo Invest which submitted a Euro 29 million bid