During the inspection of the Lake Koman cleanup, Balluku emphasized that Albania will diversify its sources of energy in a near term.

“KESH leads by example building solar panels with a capacity of 5 MWH in the Vaut i Dejes dam, which produce energy already and we will replicate this model in other areas as well. Yet our priority is to build large photovoltaic parks. The construction of the 140 MWH photovoltaic park of Karavasta is well underway and we have gone into high gear to kick off the construction of the second photovoltaic park, that of Spitalla with a capacity of 100 MWH”, said Balluku.

According to her, today KESH administers three of the largest HPPs, as we have started work with one of the largest US companies for the environmental study and design of the Skavica HPP.

“Skavica will not only be the fourth HPP of the cascade, but will serve as an optimizer of the Drini cascade. The Drini Cascade, other than its importance in the field of energy production, plays an important role in flood prevention and Skavica will be a depository of the water source, which will enable us to manage the energy production in other HPPs, or using the photovoltaic panels that will be in operation in two years’ time for 15 years with 70 MWH capacity each (Karavasta and Spitalle), which will be administered by KESH, giving us the possibility to choose which source to use and which one to save,” the minister said.

Balluku pointed out that Albania is the only country that produces renewable energy from water so far, but starting next year we will produce significant solar energy, as government policies are attracting investments in wind farms, which is the third renewable energy production system.
“We have embraced an avant-garde vision. Albania has been applying the Green Agenda for years, as our country intends to become a net exporter of energy, “ stated Balluku.
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“The highlight of the meeting was the presentation by ‘Bechtel’ company of the results of the study work carried out so far,” said Verdho.

According to him, the presentation also included a discussion on the proposed options regarding the determination of the dam axis, a process carried out on the basis of technical and economic criteria analysis.
The first phase of the Skavica hydropower plant project includes the inception work for conducting the environmental, technical and social studies to move to the second phase which is the construction of the Skavica HPP.

This project will ensure the optimization of the Drini Cascade, flood prevention in the plains of Shkodra and Lezha as well as increase of safety and efficiency in in the existing HPPs of the cascade.

The Skavica HPP is of great importance to Albania, including another 210 megawatts of renewable energy and containment of seasonal floods.
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