Vlora Thermal Power Plant Ready to Operate from May 20

TIRANA, April 25 – The newly built thermal power plant in the southern city port of Vlora will be ready to produce electricity starting from May 20, 2010, said the Albania Power Corporation (KESH).
The power plant is currently undergoing general tests, which, according to KESH director Muharrem Stojku, have until now proved successful.
The director of the state-owned power utility said the power plant will be kept on alert because of the country’s current favourable situation and start producing electricity during the drought period of August, September and October.
Experts have often criticized the high cost of electricity produced by the Vlora power plant which is 13 Lek per kWh, 5 Lek more than the cost of imported electricity.
The head of the Energy Regulatory Entity (ERE), Bujar Nepravishta said earlier the power plant cannot be put to work if the energy it produces has a very high cost. Lack of natural gas pipelines makes its operation on very expensive diesel, said Nepravishta.
The construction of the thermal power plant is Albania’s biggest investment in electricity production after nearly three decades.
The new 97 MW, 112 million dollars low-sulphur distillate oil fuelled power plant is located at a six-hectare site about six kilometers north of Vlora. The project was supported by a 25 million credit from the World Bank’s International Development Association, USD 37.5 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, USD 37.5 million from the European Investment Bank, and USD 12.6 million from KESH.
The construction of the thermal power plant, which started in August 2007, was opposed by local NGOs because of the alleged potential of pollution and damage to the tourism industry.