Albanian government’s project to build the Skavica hydropower plant (HPP) has gained the United States government support with the latter voicing direct commitment to support Albania in developing this major renewable energy initiative.

In the framework of the Memorandum of Economic Cooperation on Projects and Purchases between the Albanian Government and the US Government, the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku and the company Bechtel representative Justin Siberell, president for the Europe and the Middle East region,  in a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister Edi Rama and the U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach, signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation on the Skavica HPP project.

The signed document emphasizes the importance of the Skavica HPP as a project of national interest, which will allow Albania become a country completely non-dependent on energy imports and will position our country as an energy hub in the region.

The Memorandum praises Bechtel’s unique and leading experience in designing and implementing innovative engineering solutions, as well as the necessary funding the finalization of this complex project, solutions which have yet to be implemented in Albania.

Under the Memorandum of Cooperation, the two parties are committed to work together at all stages of this process to find appropriate solutions for the implementation of this project of national importance. The parties have also expressed interest that in addition to their cooperation in the fields of design and implementation of works they will seek to address the appropriate funding of the Project, so that it is acceptable to the Government of the Republic of Albania.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and the company Bechtel will jointly design and approve the Action Plan on the project implementation, in a process that will include the current status of the project technical documentation, the project activity plan, the proposed financing models, the managers of the project activities and deadlines for successful implementation of the Project.

The Skavica HPP is a major project with an impact not only on the country’s power system, but also on the national economy. The project will optimize the Drini River cascade, eliminate floods in the area of ​​Shkodra and Lezha plains, as well as it will enhance safety and efficiency in the existing hydropower plants on the Drin River cascade.