World Bank helps Albania prevent floods

TIRANA, Dec. 21 – The World Bank says it has lent $21.6 million to Albania to help it complete repair of hydroelectric dams that caused severe flooding last winter.
The Bank on Wednesday said the loan is in addition to $35.3 million in funding already provided and will safeguard the three hydroelectric plants on the Drini River in northern Albania to help “prevent a possible catastrophe.”
The bank says the project will also help improve the operational efficiency and enhance the stability of power supply for the regional electricity market.
“This additional financing would enable the successful implementation of the original project, thus contributing to safeguarding the major hydroelectric power plants in Albania and helping prevent a possible catastrophe from a dam failure,” said Salvador Rivera, World Bank Task Team Leader for the Dam Safety Project.
Since post-Communist Albania joined the World Bank in 1991, it has received more than 1 billion ($1.4 billion) in funding for various projects in infrastructure, public health and education services and anti-poverty programs.