Construction of hydropower plant Skavica to start in 9 months – minister

Albania plans to start the construction of the Skavica hydropower plant in the next nine months, according to government officials.

Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku said the 210 MW Skavica hydropower plant project is in its second year of implementation.

She said Skavica is the most important hydropower project in the country, claiming it would establish a necessary natural resource reserve. According to the minister, the geological project, the feasibility study, and the environmental and social impact assessment studies have been completed.

Investment in HPP Skavica is estimated at EUR 250 million

The negotiations on financing are ongoing and the construction works will begin in nine months, Balluku said in parliament.

Of note, the contractor for HPP Skavica is Bechtel, based in the United States. Together with the United Kingdom’s Export Credits Guarantee Department or UK Export Finance (UKEF), the company held a supplier fair in London last week.

The investment is estimated at EUR 250 million. Skavica will be operated by Albania’s state-owned power utility KESH. The expected annual production of the facility is 470 GWh.