Concession to Italian company for small hydropower stations

TIRANA, March 22 – The Albanian government passed Thursday a decision to give concession to the Italian company Essegei to build 25 mall hydropower station, “a package that marks another important step to increase investment in energy,” a statement said. The contract was a renovation of an old one that had yet to start. But the new contract was signed for each station and was also required that the most updated technology be installed there. Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that the renegotiation resulted with a double production of energy. Thus these 25 small hydropower stations will produce 65 million kWh per year. Investment would increase by 20 percent, though no concrete figure was given. That was the second package for small hydropower stations after the same thing was made earlier this month for 17 other stations producing 2-10 MW each. Berisha urged all foreign and local investors to think of priority on investment in the energy field saying they would have very favorable contracts. The government created a task force on that in order to cut bureaucracy.
Berisha also announced that the International Financial Corporation would soon start the environmental study for the Bushat hydropower station, which could be the first to start building. The ministry of energy has also prepared negotiations for the Kalivac hydropower station. The government has signed a contract for Kalivac station 10-12 years ago but the premier said it lacked many terms, which will be filled now.
Albania suffered from a continuous energy crisis last year due to the lack of rain which emptied the reservoirs of the hydropower stations which produce the bulk of electricity for the country. The government has set energy s one of its top priorities. There has also been signed a contract to build a thermo power plant in southwestern Vlora and another one may soon start to be built in Fier from an international group.