Project Riviera to be realized with multiple source support

TIRANA, Dec.5 – A project called Riviera, concerning the power transmission in the south of the country has raised an international interest, according to power utility KESH. Two international banks and two governments have shown interest in investing up to 30 million euro ($39.9 million). KESH gave the news on Monday clarifying the interested parties as well. The two banks are the European Investment Bank (EIB), and German state-run development bank Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW), a German development bank which is state-run. The two governments are those of South Korea and Spain. The project predicts the construction of a 110 kV electricity transmission line between Babice and Sarande and a sub-station for the distribution network in Orikum and Himare. All four locations are in the southern part of Albania, along the Ionian Sea coastline. The project aims at reviving the energy sector, but will also contribute to the development of the tourism sector in the area. It is part of a larger strategy of Albanian government to implement a multi-billion investment in power production, energy transmission and distribution.