Albania Hydro projects - I found the old news release from January, our $5 billion contract, and found a July 2011 report on Albania hydro projects. There is a beehive of activity going on in Albania, but so far I can't tell who the concessionaires are that have gotten the projects. Our original deal mentions Port Romano, which is mentioned in the July report, but not in conjunction with any company. And the total $ amounts are significantly smaller than our original 5 billion. I have made additional inquiries, will see if I get any responses, and will dig some more, I do have a love/hate relationship with my Rudana pals :)
The news release from January….
Swiss consortium to invest over 5 billion dollars in Albania
Tirana - Albania's government Thursday signed a 4-billion- euro (5.35-billion-dollar) deal with Swiss consortium Rudana Investment Group AG for construction of hydropower plants and a refinery in the next four years.
Economy Minister Dritan Prifti told reporters in Tirana that the aim of the project is to build 'a number' of hydropower plants with a capacity of 1000 megawatts per hour.
The deal also envisages building a new refinery in Porto Romano and either opening a new port in Vlora or privatizing the existing one within a four-year period.
Now the July 2011 Project Management Update from Albania
During this year 1280 premises will be privatized
Around 300 premises are privatized and in meantime, 110 other dossiers are ready
privatizing facilities of various importance.
Deputy Minister for Economy, Trade and Energy of Albania, Eno Bozdo said that it is
expected that during this year there will be a completion of privatization process of 1280
facilities. Of course, more facilities are subject to be approved for privatization.
Privatization of these facilities that currently are not functioning, according to Deputy
Minister Bozdo there will be a high positive impact in the economy as many job positions
will be created. Prime Minister Berisha also mentioned that privatization process for the
facilities listed will be completed during second half of this year.
Concessionaires Agreements are the last motive to develop Albanian economy and
infrastructure where tens of facilities and objects are being included from almost all sectors
are foreseen to be sold resulting in a total of at least 1.7 billion USD. A part of this amount
will be invested from private sector.
Currently 7 big hydro power plants are in function and 43 small ones, out of which 10 have
been privatized, 2 under Albanian Energy Corporation, (KESH sh.a.) and 31 hydro power
plants have been given on concession
The government has planned to build a new thermo power plant in
Porto Romano, Vlora with installed capacity of around 130 MgW costing around 130 million
euro. Albanian government is trying to finance this project with different funds be it from
private sector through “Purchasing Power Agreement”.
