Gas terminals and thermo power to help with the energy problems

TIRANA, March.6 – The government declared that it is launching a project for three companies to build terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) on areas covering 60, 120 and 30 hectares around Vjosa River in Fieri district, about 100 kilometers southwest of Tirana. Swiss EGL, Dutch-based Trans European Energy and international consortium ASG Power SA have been authorized to build the terminals and power plants, and were expected to apply soon for construction licenses, officials said. The projects will supply Albania with power, as well as providing gas and power through international connections to the European grid. The short term goal is to reduce as far as possible the excess reliance on hydro power resources and alleviate power rationing. The ultimate end of this program targets Albania becoming a transit point for international gas networks and overcome a power crisis in the former communist country. The authorities gave no concrete expected date of when the projects would start, or how much investment they entailed. The ASG Powers SA, based in Lugano, Switzerland, and Trans European Energy would likely start their projects this year, said Gjergj Bojaxhi, vice minister of Trade, Industry and Energy who was recently promoted head of KESH with former Andi Beli’s removal. EGL was more interested in building a gas pipeline, he added. Last month the Albanian Electro-Energy Corporation (KESH), signed a 92 million Euro contract with Italy’s Maire Engineering SpA to build a 100 MWh oil-based thermo-power plant in Vlora, 140 kilometers southwest of Tirana, completing it in two years. The Vlora plant will also be supplied with gas from the Fieri terminals.