Construction of the Devoll Cascade started
13/05/2013 00:00
Protest in front of the Albanian Parliament against the new budget ends prematurely 19/11 21:20
After four years of work for the detailed planning of the Devoll
Cascade, the Norwegian giant “Statkraft” officially inaugurated the
works on terrain for the construction of roads that will connect the
Banja dam with the existing roads.
The Devoll cascade goes through Elbasan, Gramsh and Korce, and three hydropower plants will be built along it. The Banja HPP has a 80 meters high dam; that of Kokeli HPP is 50 meters high while the Moglica is up to 150m, connected with a 11 kilometers long tunnel. In total they will produce 780 million KWh annually.
The closest profit is the opening of new jobs that goes to at least 5000 people.
“The construction phase will open many new jobs. Directly, with those who work for the realization of the project, and indirectly through the supplies and subcontractual services. We encourage our partners to employ local workers and use their local supply. We also encourage the entire community to exploit every new possibility that is opened by the construction of this cascade”, declared the vice president of the company, Tima Lyer.
The most enthusiastic about this ceremony was The Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, who declared that the construction of the Devoll cascade is a historic date not only because this is the biggest foreign investment in Albania, that will employ thousands of Albanians, but because it makes the government’s reform concrete, with the goal to turn Albania into a regional energy superpower.
“Albania is a small country, but the giant Statkraft has come in one of its valley. This shows the extraordinary potentials. This is the construction that turns Albania into a power exporter”, Berisha declared.
Berisha says that the presence of Statkraft in Albania means more trust for the foreign companies, which he assured that they will find the best investment climate in Albania.
“This is a great day of trust for Albania. During the new mandate we will do everything possible to improve the business climate. The voices of those who are threatening the business climate will be alone in a desert”, Berisha declared.
According to the agreement with the Albanian government, which has undertaken the expropriation responsibilities, this 1 billion EUR investment will be complete after 6 years and will increase Albania’s energy production with 20%.
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