Albania’s Power Corporation (KESH) and Bechtel signed an agreement to begin the early works for the 210 MW Skavica plant on the Drin River under a fast-track delivery approach.
Work will begin immediately with a technical investigation, preliminary construction roads and the environmental and social impact assessment which will meet international best practice to expedite the start of construction.
Skavica will be located upstream of the Drin cascade, which is home to four hydro power plants. The combination of these existing projects currently produces the largest energy production in the Balkans, with a combined power output of 1,350MW.
“Skavica will increase the cascade’s output and bring significant additional safety and environmental benefits. As a regulating dam, it will give greater protection against the devastating floods which impact the downstream communities annually,” Andrew Patterson, Bechtel’s Infrastructure Global M&BD and Major Project Development Manager, said.
Andrew Patterson, Bechtel’s Infrastructure Global M&BD & Major Project Development Manager, (second left), Ergys Verdho, KESH CEO General (second right) at the signing ceremony for the Skavica Dam with Belinda Balluku, Albania Government’s Minister of Infrastructure and Energy (centre right), Justin Siberell, Region President, Europe & the Middle East, Bechtel (centre left) with Ela Ruci, Bechtel Business Development Manager and Alex McFarlane of the US Embassy in Tirana (far left and right)