The permit for building two hydropower plants on the Osum River was given by the former Democratic Party in 2013.
The new Socialist government came to power in the same year and suspended it, promising to completely cancel it.
But different from what has been promised, the project continued in silence, behind closed doors.
In 2016, the Ministry of Energy approved a new concession agreement for the construction of two hydropower plants, with the HP Bigas Veleshnje company. The government gave permits, making way for the construction.
The project was kept in silence until the scandal was published by Top Channel, forcing the government to withdraw and admit that the concession is illegal.
This Friday, Prime Minister Edi Rama promised that no hydropower plant will be built if it damages tourism.
“We are determined to face every mine that has been placed in the past. We will not undermine Albania. The Hydropower Plant of Valbona, which we inherited from the past government, was minimized, although we couldn’t neutralize it completely because we would be facing Arbitration courts that would punish us very harshly. We will not allow constructions where tourism can be damaged”, Rama said.
Rama commented for the quarries that are damaging mountains.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Environment, which leads our ambitious program for increasing green areas in all of our territories, is watching very closely each quarry in Albania, not only in Berat. We will keep blocking quarries and any company that will be operating will have to implement all standards because the contracts are very clear. We have prepared the plan for rehabilitating Skanderbeg’s town, Kruja, damaged by the barbarity of transition. We will add green spaces in the entire area, and we will allow companies that fulfil other criteria”, Rama said.
Top Channel
