Verbund wins bid to build Ashta hydropower station

TIRANA, August 1 – Verbund has won the bid to build the Ashta hydropower station, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy (METE) announced on Friday. Verbund’s bid totaled 95.33 out of 100 points by METE’s Evaluation Committee, as opposed to the 59.21 point-bid by the NCR-Electrabel consortium.
The bid evaluation process was based on several criteria, such as the construction costs and duration, technical quality, power capacity and social standards. Verbund’s project includes avoiding modifications on the Drini riverbed where it joins Buna River, so it does not affect the water flow of the Shkodra Lake.
Verbund counts more than 90 hydropower stations it has built around the world, with a total power of 6.000 mW and a production of 22.8 billion kW an hour. The Ashta hydropower station is expected to deliver between 40 and 70 mW. The building costs are estimated at some 166 million Euros, and the company said the power plant would be ready in 36 months.