A package of loans and grants is intended for the rehabilitation of hydropower plant Fierza, waste management projects, and regional development.

Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku has signed three cooperation agreements with Ambassador of Germany to Albania Peter Zingraf.

According to the embassy, the German government and its KfW Development Bank earmarked EUR 124.9 million for investments in sustainable development in Albania.

Waste management project will receive a EUR 5.9 million grant

The support, mainly in the form of low-interest loans, is intended to expand the waste management system according to European Union standards, for the rehabilitation of hydropower plant Fierza, and support for regional development in the southern coastal region and the Korça-Pogradec region, the embassy said on Facebook.

Belinda Balluku asserted grants would be used to implement and supervise the projects and added that the waste management agreement is accompanied by an investment grant worth EUR 5.9 million.

Helping Albania implement Solid Waste Master Plan

The first agreement is related to the sustainable and climate-friendly management in the waste sector with a goal to achieve sustainable management of solid waste, through infrastructure investments.

The agreement supports the implementation of the Solid Waste Master Plan and helps the harmonization of the country’s standards with the EU. The planned projects include the construction of a regional landfill in Berat and waste transfer centers, according to the ministry.

HPP Fierza is the largest HPP in the country

The second agreement includes the rehabilitation of the 500 MW Fierza hydropower plant, the largest hydropower plant in the country, with the aim to increase production, according to Albania’s ministry.

The third agreement is for an investment program for integrated regional development, particularly infrastructure, in order to promote the economic development of areas with tourism potential.