A number of power cuts lasting for two or three hours have been recurrent in the district of Tirana over the last month and weeks. This corresponds with the administrative take-over of the former national power distributor, OSSH (Albanian Distribution Operator), by the Czech CEZ private company, estimates Ard Kola, Shqip’s business editor (6.06.2009). “CEZ registers the new name at the National Center for Registrations, pays the dues, takes control over OSSH and begins work Šwith energy restrictions…” begins the report by Ard Kola. Shqip reports that some areas have had power difficulties anew, with cuts lasting from two to three hours. Fresk area, near the Dajti Mountain, Rruga e Kavaj쳠area, and Rruga Muhamet Gjollesha area are reported to have been affected anew.
CEZ registered “Cez Albania” National Center for Registrations (QKR, Qendra
Komb쵡re e Regjistrimeve) on the 15-16th of May, with an initial capital of nearly $440,000 US (USD). During this period the Competition Authority approved the sale of the OSSH shares, which cleared the path for the application of the agreement between the Czech CEZ and the Albanian state, as a proprietor of the former national power distributor (OSSH). The agreement entered into being on the 29th of May, obliging the former director to withdraw and causing a new Survey Council be formed. CEZ paid to the Albanian state 102 million euros.
On a press release on the 1st of July, General Director of CEZ Group stated that “…CEZ has a profound and long-lasting experience in the restructuring of power distribution operators in Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria.”
Power cuts are due to investment and enhancement of distribution capacity, says Cez Albania. In the Rruga e Kavaj쳠area, Cez Albania engineers claim enhancement of power distribution network from “6 kilovolt, to 20 kilovolt, a capacity sufficient to support the charge.” Work is making headway in the Porcelan area, near the Dajti Mountain, where the normal power distribution situation is reported to be yet a step away. CEZ has promised to invest 200 million euros for the next three years for the enhancement of the capacity of the distribution network in Albania. The reduction of unpaid bills and escalated price increases are among the other main objectives of the group for the coming years.
