The substation of Rradhime, an old production dating back to 1971 and in a very aggravated condition, was one of the most problematic in terms of the quality of power supply in the tourist areas of Orikum, Radhime and its surrounding villages, as well as in Llogara, Baze and Pashaliman.

Today, this substation, a crucial node in the distribution system, has been fully reconstructed thanks to a 60 million ALL investment. A new 35/10 KV transformer with a 10MVt power and adjustable voltage levels has been placed, in order to double the capacity thus meeting the increased demand for electricity consumption especially in the summer season. 5 new hatches, a 2016 production, have been placed. They will not only guarantee the maximum safety for employees during the operations, but they will also enhance the quality of electricity supply.

In parallel with the substation, 35 kV lines implemented in the 70s were reconstructed. The investment for the lines Vlore – Skele – Uje i Ftohte – Rradhime – Orikum amounts to 65 million new ALL.

Prime Minister Edi Rama was in the substation of Rradhime, accompanied by the Minister of Energy Gjiknuri and OSHEE CEO Ardian Cela.

During the visit to the old substation, Cela said that investments will be extended in other villages of the area, in order to replace the old energetic infrastructures with new-standard infrastructures. He also noted that the new line made available during the last tourist season has avoided for the first time a problematic situation in terms of power supply.

“This investment was made in 1971, and you can see in what situation it is. We have invested 60 million ALL with the company’s income, thus strengthening the transformer and enhancing 5 new automatic hatches. These investments have been made with funds of the company for the 35 kW line, and this is the first phase.”

Mr Cela said that the new transformer guarantees the quality of supply and reduces the number of defects “This is a new investment, and the new empowered transformer that we have placed outside guarantees the quality of supply and decrease the number of defects.  We have a spare key in case there is a defect, so that we can use the spare hatch.”

In Prime Minister Rama’s view, the epochal breakthroughs in technology are the result of the energy reform. The Prime Minister said that customer contributions are being transformed into investments for them. “All these epochal breakthroughs in technology are the result of the energy reform. All these are costumer contributions that are being transformed in investments. All these investments will ensure a quality power service in the whole territory of the Republic of Albania, in addition to renew the network which 85% dates back to the era of electrification.”

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The new 35/20/10kV power substation has been installed for the first time in the most popular tourist resort in Dhërmi, in order to solve many problems concerning energy supply to the area. 140 million ALL have been invested for an infrastructure (pillar conductor), where interventions weren’t made since 1967. The substation provides power supply to the area of Palasa and Dhermi.

“We have made this investment in the new substation of Dhërmi to guarantee supply to the area of Palasa and Dhermi, in view of the new tourism investments in the area which burden the network. We’re talking about a line that dates back to 1967, and no interventions were made since then. This 140 million ALL investment has been made with the income of the company”, OSHEE CEO said.

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For the first time, after 25 years Himara guaranteed in 2016 a successful tourist season in terms of power supply. This was thanks to the new, modern and portable substation currently installed in Himara, following a 200 million ALL investment. The substation supplies the town of Himare, Qeparo and Dhërmi-Palasë area.

Simultaneously with the substation, the construction of the line with 35 and 20 kV levels has been completed from Himare to Dhërmi (13 km with 45 columns). The investment was worth 247 million ALL.

Prime Minister Rama visited the substation together with minister Gjiknuri and OSHEE CEO Ardian Cela. Mr Cela explained that this is the first time that a portable substation has been implemented in Albania, and it is a modern technology.

“We’re here to inspect the mobile substation, an advanced technology that has been implemented for the first time in Albania. We will continue with the investments in order to place such substations in the problematic areas. We have 3 substations of this kind in the area of Fushe-Kruje, and in other areas of the country. The new 10-20 kV substation will be the biggest, and we will move it to another problematic area.”