Concession grant starts race for small hydropower units

TIRANA, March.31 – The approval of the law on small hydropower units concessions from the government, has launched an intensive race on the side of business companies, mainly foreign, to get a hold of projects for building and managing such energy facilities. The business side knows the potential of the energy market to generate long term profit and has thus started the competition. Economy Minister Genc Ruli explained that the ministry he leads has on its agenda the concession of 17 units with a capacity range of 2-10 megawatts. The concessions will be granted with a normal tender procedure organized by the ministry. The documentation should be taken up until April 2. No less than 65 requests have been already deposited in this ministry regarding the small hydropower units.
Out of these, 10 subjects have also presented alongside their request a concrete plan for the offer and the project of the facility which secures them 10 percent of the tender points as a bonus. The legal procedure of documentation assessment includes a check upon the optimal efficient use of water reserves. Thus a special task force composed of experts has been raised within the National Agency for Natural Reserves, to present an opponent side to every offer. They consider the indicators of efficient level of use of water depending on the technical level of the projects.
Ruli stressed that private investment is a crucial component to complete the energetic infrastructure and in general will foster the foreign investments in the country.