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Albania

Country Profile

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Latest Developments
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Projects
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Policy/Regulatory

 

 

 

Electricity generation in Albania is dominated by large hydroelectric facilities, contributing to over 85 percent of total electric capacity.   Although Albania has been a net exporter of electricity in the past, over the last 5 or 6 years the country has relied on imports.   There is a state-wide effort to reduce electricity shortages and excessive demand by implementing strong penalties against theft and defaults by consumers.   

In general, renewable energy data for Albania is limited.   At this time there have been no regulatory incentives identified for the development of renewable energy projects.   Due to in-country know-how and available resources, hydro appears to be the most promising resource for renewable energy project development.   There is however, a concern to increase reliability in dry years when hydro power output is significantly reduced.  Privatization seems to be the main driver behind small hydro rehabilitation and development.

 

Although Albania is in a somewhat favorable climate for solar development, it does not seem likely that there will be an emphasis on solar development in the near future due to its relatively high costs.  There are numerous locations of low to medium enthalpy geothermal wells identified in Albania, but there are no known high enthalpy locations identified for electricity production.   Sufficient wind data is not available to estimate the technical potential of wind energy, and the low electricity rates seem to hinder the economical development of wind energy.   Incentives and interest in biomass renewable energy projects seems low at this point, although a significant technical potential was identified (17.5 TWh/yr thermal), perhaps enough for 600 MW of power generating capacity.       

 

 

Country Profile and Notes

 

More information is provided in the country profile and country notes, including specific resource and energy sector information:

View 2009 Country Profile

View 2005 Country Profile (460 kB pdf)

View 2002 Country Notes  (163 kB pdf)

 

 

 

Latest Developments
 
TitleSummarypubDate
$21.6M Loan Approved for Albanian Hydro Work
The World Bank said Wednesday it had approved a loan worth $21.6 million (16.6 million euros) aimed at renovating hydroelectric plants that caused severe floods last winter, AFP reported.
The money was aimed at "rehabilitation of the spillways in three dams of the Drin River cascade".
21-Dec-11
EBRD Lends €3m for Two Albania HPPs
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has loaned €3m to Albanian company Energy Partners for the construction of two small hydroelectric facilities in the north-east of the country.
24-Nov-11
Development Banks Involved in Hydropower Projects


The involvement of multi-national banking institutions is critical to the completion and modernization of hydroelectric projects, particularly in the developing world. This article details nearly US$16 billion in funding recently awarded for work at more than 50 projects.

10-Nov-11
EBRD May Finance Upgrade of Koman HPP on the Drin River
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) considers providing EUR 12.7mn sovereign guaranteed loan to Albania's state-owned power utility KESH to finance the upgrade of Koman hydropower dam on the Drin Rriver, the bank said in a statement. The credit will finance part of KESH's programme aimed at improving the safety of dams at the Drin and Mat River cascades.
 
18-Oct-11
Albania to Award Concessions on Eight Small HPPs
Albania's government decided on October 12 to award concessions on eight small hydropower plants, the Prime Minister's press office announced.
12-Oct-11
Quku 1, Quku 2 and Shutri HPP TenderThe Albanian economy ministry will call a concession tender for construction, operation and transfer of hydropower plants Quku 1, Quku 2 and Shutri, the government said on its website.
04-Aug-11
Companies Show Interest in Albanian HydroChinese and Swedish companies are interested in the privatisation of the five hydropower plants that have been put up for sale by the Albanian government, economy minister Nasip Naco told Albanian Daily News in an interview.
16-Jun-11
NIB Opens Environmental Loan Facility for Black Sea Countries
The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) have concluded a new agreement opening a loan facility aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the BSTDB's member countries.
The new loan programme has a 10-year maturity and totals EUR 30 million. At least 70% of the loan programme is to be allocated for this purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases in countries around the Black Sea. Sub-projects are expected to be implemented in the sectors of renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy saving as well as public transportation. The BSTDB is an international financial institution of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.
09-Jun-11
Albania Prepares Draft of Hydropower Privatization LawAlbania’s Ministry of Economy has prepared a draft law according to which the first four hydropower plants are going to be offered for privatization soon, Top-Channel reports.
01-Jun-11
Project Development Firm Soravia Looks at Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania

"Currently, we are drafting a strategy for the renewable energy sector, our plans are to start this year with two photovoltaic projects with a capacity of between five and seven megawatts," he said.

15-Mar-11
EBRD Seeks Consultancy Support for More Western Balkans Renewable Energy Lending

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is in the process of establishing the Private Sector Support Facility for Western Balkans. In Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia the Facility will consist of two on-lending windows through local banks (PBs) to support private sector investments. WB-Private Sector Support Facility for Western Balkans  aims to establish a dedicated financing mechanism for private sector sustainable energy projects using financial intermediation model.

21-Jan-11
Albanian Flood damage to be Repaired at Three HPP Sites on Lower Shkodra
“There will be a complete rehabilitation of nearly 30 kilometers of embankment in the rivers of Kir, Gjader, Drin and Buna. The river will be extended and deepened nearly as 1/3 of Buna’s length; we will completely reconstruct the supporting embankment of Torovica and we will rehabilitate the three main hydro power plants,” said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection, Genc Ruli reports Alsat.
14-Jan-11
Turkish Firm to Build Five HPPs in Albania
Ayen Enerji Corporation and Albania-based A.S.Energy SH.P.K. consortium has submitted the best offer in the tender for construction of five hydroelectric power plants in Albania.
 
15-Dec-10
Sample data for testing EBRD Redesign
Sample data for testing EBRD redesign
01-Oct-10
IFC to Invest €25M in Green for Growth Fund Southeast Europe

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group , will invest up to €25 million in the Green for Growth Fund Southeast Europe to stimulate financing of sustainable energy projects within the region. The fund will have a significant developmental impact in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy and expanding lending to households, small and medium enterprises, renewable energy projects, energy service companies, and municipalities.  Its investments initially are targeted to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey.

30-Jun-10
(Items 1 to 15)Next

 Projects
Project TitleTechnologyCapacity MWStatus
Porto Romano Biodiesel PlantBiodiesel
planned
Ashta HydroHydroelectric48
announced
Northern Albania Energy ParkWind374
planned
Devol River HydropowerHydroelectric340
planned
Marseglia Group Wind and BiofuelsWind140 MW biomass and 234 MW Wind
planned
Vlora Wind FarmWind500
planned
Italgest Kryevidhi, Albania Wind FarmWind150
Proposed
Devoll River (Albania) HydroHydroelectric300
planned
KalivaciHydroelectric120
Planned
BushatiHydroelectric84
Planned
Banja KeshHydroelectric60
Planned
VukelHydroelectric0.05
Operating
Vau I DejaHydroelectric258
Operating -turbine expansion considered
UlzaHydroelectric25.6
Operating
ThethHydroelectric0.075
Operating
(Items 1 to 15)Next

 Policy/Regulatory
Policy NameTechnologySponsor
Construction Deadlins for Concession AgreementsHydroelectricAlbanian Government
PM Statement on RenewablesAll RenewablesAlbanian Prime Minister

 


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