Terna studying three Balkan interconnector links, including to Albania

ROME, Nov. 25 – Terna SpA was studying three possible electric interconnector links across the Adriatic sea to link Italy’s electricity grid with those in three Balkan countries, including Albania, according to company officials.
Terna recently announced a planned link to Montenegro while, earlier in November, Terna signed an agreement with Croatian power grid operator HEP-OPS for a feasibility study on a submarine cable link to Croatia.
Terna said other studies were looking at links from Foggia, Italy to Podgorica in Montenegro and Foggia to Durazzo in Albania.
All three links would be have a 500 or 1,000 MW capacity with the Croatian link 240 kilometers long, the Montenegro one 300 km, and the Albania one 300 km, the company said.
The company gave no cost for the possible links.
Industry sources said links to the Balkan power market would give Italy access to power from its hydroelectric plants and coal-powered plants, costing 30 percent less than electricity produced in Italy.(Tirana Times Staff)