Officials fear renewed electricity crisis as drought leaves artificial lakes near hydro-electric power stations at low levels
TIRANA, March 19 – The low water levels in the northern Albanian Drin Cascade where the country’s key hydropower plants are situated hints Albania’s hydro-dependent energy system will face a tough year due to poor rainfall last winter.
Water levels in the key Fierza hydropower plant have dropped to around 275 metres, down 16 meters compared to the same period last year and a maximum of 296 metres while average water flows stand at a low of 84 m3/s, according to sources from state-run KESH power utility.
Energy Ministry officials assure they will import all necessary electricity to provide 24/7 power supply. However, the high level of grid losses, estimated at around 50 percent of the electricity fed into the grid, due to the dilapidated distribution network and massive power thefts, risks negatively affecting the state budget due to government funding to carry out imports.
The Albanian government has recently approved around 82 million Euros in loan guarantees for KESH power corporation for electricity purchases due to the drought period until early January 2014.
Albania’s deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi, who heads a nationwide task force targeting to reduce grid losses and thefts, said Albania is estimated to have lost around 200 million dollars in 2013 from power losses which rose to 43 percent. The losses which are a result of massive power thefts and dilapidated distribution system are equal to 70 percent of electricity generation from the Drin cascade in northern Albania, where the biggest hydropower plants are situated.
