The inauguration of 110 kV project Albania’s South Ring and the launch of an overhead power link were held in Vlora in Albania’s south, Oslobođenje portal from Sarajevo reported. Energoinvest d. d. from Bosnia and Herzegovina was the contractor, and German KfW Development Bank supported the project. The power line was completed in less than three years, ahead of deadline, the article said. The company, selected at an international tender, built 249 kilometres of 110 kV power lines and expanded five substations in the country. Energoinvest said it is also constructing a 400 kV interconnection in Albania, set to be complete by the middle of the year.
The works are part of a chain of investments, as USD 120 million (EUR 106.7 million) in total were funded by distribution network operator Oshee sh. a., the Albanian Electrical Power Corporation (KESH) and the Transmission System Operator (TSO or OST), prime minister Edi Rama said, inaugurating substation Babica. „Only two and a half years ago losses were 52% in the entire power distribution system. A significant proportion of this 52%, the largest one, concerned energy theft,” he stressed. Rama said the project will be complete with the construction of substations Orikum and Himara, with procedures already underway. He added the aim is to eradicate power shortages in the country’s south and to boost the economy and tourism. The premier said Albania will be fully integrated into the European power network when interconnection projects with Kosovo* and Macedonia are complete.
Albania’s South Ring, covering the western and eastern part of southern Albania, is a EUR 49 million investment by the German government through KfW, the prime minister’s office said. The project was expanded and strengthened the 400/110 kV substation of Zemblak.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
