Attending the meeting of the Committee, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Ilir Bejtja said that, “The loan we receive, in the amount of 40 million Euros, serves to continue investments in rehabilitation of the cascade on the river Drin, which began with HPP of Vau i Dejës and then with the repair of the turbines in Koman and now we are dealing with the aggregates in the hydroelectric power station of Fierza ”.

Bejtja emphasized that the rehabilitation is a necessary process for the cascade, which according to him, “Contributes to the increase of production efficiency of the Fierza HPP by at least 4%; reduces time and costs for maintenance of aggregates; increases the security in the supply of electricity to the country as well as the lifespan of the operation of the work with at least another 30 years”.

“The project for electro-mechanical rehabilitation of HPP Fierza is of special significance for the Albanian electricity sector and further. This is because Fierza Hydro Power Plant is the most important generating unit in our country “, said Bejtja, while informing the committee that the investment envisages the overhaul of two turbines in Fierza HPP, with an impact on increasing the efficiency of the hydro power plant”./p.s./

Attending the ceremony were Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, EU Ambassador Luigi Soreca and German Ambassador Peter Zingraf.

The project envisages the intervention in the turbines 1 and 3 of HPP Fierzë as well as the complete rehabilitation of the generators of the four turbines in this HPP.

Energy Minister Balluku said that today, when all over the world there is talk of an energy crisis which is not only related to the high prices that are being applied, but it is related to the lack of energy in market, investing in energy capacity is one of the most important actions.

Balluku added that all four generators in Fierza are of an old technology and through financing from this agreement it becomes possible their complete replacement. Among other things, the replacement of two machine cranes will be rehabilitated.

“All these interventions will enable increase of efficiency of energy production from Fierza”, she said.

On his part, German Ambassador Peter Zingraf said that, “This will increase the production life of one of the most important hydropower plants in the country by at least 30 years. With the improvement of its efficiency, the production of electricity will increase, giving a significant contribution to the energy security of Albania. Germany provides a € 40 million loan and a € 2 million grant through the German Development Bank (KfW). The European Union supports with a grant of 8.35 million Euros within the Investment Framework in the Western Balkans “, said the German Ambassador Peter Zingraf./j.p/r.e/p.s./

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Ilir Bejtja said that the investment envisages the overhaul of two turbines in the Fierza HPP, which will increase the efficiency of the HPP.

Bejtja said that the turbines were installed about 38 years ago and that even if they do not have defects, they should be repaired.

He informed that the program will continue further with the rehabilitation of turbines in the hydropower plant of Vau i Dejës.

“The investment for the rehabilitation of all HPPs on the cascade is estimated at 150 million euros. “Apart from turbines, investments are also being made in the gates of HPPs, canals and their protection”, said Bejtja./p.s./

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Ilir Bejtja said that the bill would clear the way for a favourable loan of 40 million euros from the German state-owned investment and development bank KfW to fund rehabilitation of the Fierza HPP, as well as an additional funding of 2 million euros for project implementation and supervision.

The proposed project includes the replacement of two turbine runners, four old generators and all electromechanical peripheral supporting equipment at the plant, which was commissioned in 1981.

The 500 MW Fierza hydropower dam is the uppermost in a cascade of three large storage plants on the Drin, with a combined capacity of 1350 MW. Based on its position and the volume of the reservoir, Fierza plays a key role in the exploitation, regulation and safe operation of the Drin cascade.

/j.p/u.sh/