Japan supports dam safety project

TIRANA, March 4 – Japan will support an important project about dam safety in Albania and the agreement was co-signed by the World Bank, by Country Manager, Camille Nuamah, and the Ministry of Finance by the Minister of Finance Ridvan Bode for a grant of $950,000 to support the preparation of the Energy Community of South East Europe APL 5 (ECSEE-APL) project. This Grant is financed by the Government of Japan through its Policy and Human Resources Development Fund (PHRD). The Japan PHRD Fund was established in 1990 as a partnership between the Government of Japan and the World Bank. The ceremony was held in the presence of Honorary Consul General of Japan in Albania Bujar Dida, as well as World Bank project team members.
Thanking the World Bank and the Government of Japan for this agreement, Bode said “This important program will help the preparation and implementation of a series of projects in the energy sector including dam safety, preparation of the feasibility study and all related documentation for the interconnection with South East Europe, as well as promotion of private sector in the electricity generation”. Nuamah said that “The World Bank is very grateful for the long partnership with the Government of Japan in preparing important projects for Albania”.
The Honorary Consul General of Japan in Albania, Bujar Dida read the message of the Japanese Ambassador in Albania H.E. Yuji Nakamura. “In close cooperation with the Government of Albania and the World Bank, the Government of Japan wishes to continue assisting the Albanian people in order to assure them a better and happy future”, was stated in the message.
The ECSEE APL 5 project is one of a series of operations that aim to develop a functional regional electricity market in South East Europe, through the implementation of priority investments supporting electricity market and power system operations in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, and technical assistance for institutional systems development and project preparation and implementation.
This project aims to safeguard the existing large hydroelectric power generation plants of Albania and promote more efficient use of hydro resources for electricity generation. The Albanian Power Corporation KESH will be the executing agency for this Grant.