TIRANA, Aug. 4 – Albanians suffering long power cuts and water shortages during a summer of heat waves should probably be prepared to brace for worse because of the lack of rain for its hydropower stations that produce the bulk of the country’s electricity.
Authorities said August would be difficult because very little rain would flow into the mountain reservoirs of its hydro-electric power schemes.
Energy Minister Genc Ruli appealed for understanding from the people and blamed the shortages on the lowest water flow in 60 years to the hydroelectric dams the country relies on.
The drought has forced the national power utility, KESH, to impose power cuts of up to ten hours a day in the capital and much more in the countryside, shortening government working hours.
“We shall buy as much power as possible, especially after August when there will be loosened capacity,” Ruli said.
Power outages has become very difficult for Albanians and also local businesses that complain many products are rotting in summer temperatures that have topped 40 degrees Celsius.
At the same time, power cuts have also aggravated water shortages by stopping water pumps.
More than 95 percent of Albania’s power is generated by hydropower schemes in the north, the last of which was built more than 20 years ago. There are numerous projects to generate power, the main being that of a thermo power plant in Vlore expected to break ground this autumn, but construction is delayed.
