Heavy rains improves energy reserve

TIRANA, Dec. 9 – Besides the problems in many cities and damage on roads, recent heavy rains have fueled two out of three largest hydro power plants in Albania. That raises hopes for fewer power cuts this winter and an improved financial situation for the state-owned Albanian Electro-Energy Corporation, or KESH.
The Koman and Vau i Dejes hydro power plants have reached their maximum capacities, while levels at the Fierza basin, the most important hydro power plant in the country, have been rising sharply.
The three hydro power plants at the Drini river have a total installed capacity of 1,350 MW, covering 60 percent of the country’s electricity needs.
There are plans to build two additional hydro power plants in that river, at Ashta with a 240 – 270 GW/h capacity per year. The Austrian company, Verbund, won the concession in July as well as another plant expected to be commission in five years. The Skavica hydro power plant is to be built by the Italian group, TASSARA-GEOTECNA-KINGLOR, with 538 million Euros and is to produce 250 megawatt.