Concessions in energy

In an interpellation with the Minister of Energy, the Socialist MP, Erjon Brace, gave the facts that according to him prove that the hydropower plant concessions are corrupted.

Minister Naco replied to the opposition by presenting the achievements in concessions and the inaugurations that will be made to some new investments.

“In 99% of the tenders, there have been unasked concessions, where specific businesses have been rewarded with bonuses by the government. In 99% of the cases, the company that wins the bonus also wins the tender. These tenders are fictive”, Brace accused.

“You declared that 99% of the tenders were unasked. That was our goal, to include the private businesses in investments. For this reason, I want to say to Mr. Brace that we have different opinions about this. What you want to do is nationalization”, Naco declared.

“Some of you that are present in this floor, have won 6-7 tenders, under the scheme that aims to turn the Ministers and their families to the new Albanian millionaires”, Brace declared.

“There are 320 hydropower plant concessions that have been given with this procedure, and the complaints are less than five. This shows the transparency of the procedures. You can check the National Registration Center for the necessary information”, Naco replied.

Brace declared that due to the favors in tenders, the concession process has completely failed and Albania remains in an energetic crisis.

“15 of 98 agreements, which include 22 hydropower plants, have not started working yet and have violated the deadlines set by Berisha.  Other four cases have only four weeks left, and their deadlines will also be expired. 10 others have made only preliminary works. For 45 other agreements, for 154 hydropower plants, there is no information about the construction process”, Brace declared.

However, Naco says that the process is on the right track.

“The agreements made with a serious state are considered as holy, by each party. This is the principle I will continue to stand for. I have started the procedures for 12 agreements that seemed fictive to me, but this doesn’t obscure the work for the construction of these major works. I invite you to come soon in the inaugurations”, Naco added.

The concession for the hydropower plants started in 2006 and the government announced it as one of the main initiatives for great national benefits. But after 6 years, the achievements are insignificant and most of the projects have serious delays.

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