After more than 50 years, Albania will start building the Skavica hydro power plant on the Drin River, in the northern part of the country.
The Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that this will be a state-funded project and this is a promise that previous governments failed to keep.
“Our government will build with its 100% funding this strategic project, important for our energy independence and turning Albania into a key factor in the region’s energy sector. Skavica HPP completes the Drin River cascade, gives the possibility of conserving water reserves, eventually ending great energy losses, avoid flooding from water overload and restarting the export or import of energy. With the official launch of the procedures today, the construction works will start next year,” Rama said.
Benet Beci, the head of the Albanian Power Corporation, known locally as KESH, the largest electricity producing company in the country, explained the importance of Skavica hydro power plant.
“It will be part of the Drin river cascade. It has a production that covers 65% of the country’s needs. The capacity of this hydro power complex is 1350 megawatts.
“The cascade was designed in the ’60s and envisaged five hydro power plants. Four of them were built, but Skavica never did. The government initiated the feasibility study, and as a result we have gathered our best experts. An important part is the impact on the economy. The main problem is that Albania consumes more electricity than it produces. We pay approximately $100 million for imports of the energy. That is why this investment is important. We reduce the import and increase the efficiency of the entire cascade and other hydro power plants. The main point will be in one of the Skavica canyons. The dam will have a concrete arch with discharge ports on itsbody. The hydro power plant will be 3 km below the dam and the diversion channel will be on the right side,” Benet Beci, head of KESH and the project director explained.
Top Channel
