The Power Distribution Operator (OSHEE) has launched an investment worth 125 million lek in building overhead transformer stations and the new low-voltage network in the administrative unit of Mollas, Municipality of Cerrik, central Albania. The OSHEE-funded project was indispensable in the face of an extremely amortized network built back in 1967 and which failed to ensure steady power supply.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, together with lawmaker Taulant Balla, who represents Elbasan constituency, inspected the ongoing works set to complete in the next three months.

“This area has suffered from power shortage although local residents regularly pay the electricity bills. However, I am confident that the recent OSHEE investment will address the power supply problems and make sure that we honour our pledges to this area,” MP Balla said.

“The power network here has been built in 1967, while OSHEE is now investing 125 million lek to reconstruct 20 transformer stations and three pole-mounted distribution transformers and the entire low-voltage power line. The project includes administrative unit of Mollas, Rrajce, Paper and the adjacent villages. The investment is scheduled to complete in three months,” OSHEE Director Ardian Çela said. On the other hand, he added – OSHEE is also implementing many other important investments in this area.

“At the same time, we are investing some 130 million lek in the Municipality of Cerrik along the Cerrik-Elbasan road segment, benefiting some 10 000 residents. Two more investments are underway. A new investment is being carried out in the power network of the town of Përrenjas for first time in decades, whereas the power grid along Cerrik-Dopaj is also being rehabilitated in an investment worth 120 million lek. Some 167 projects have been implemented in the district of Elbasan alone over the past four years,” Çela said.

PM Rama noted that the power network transformation was a result of the power sector reform launched by his government.

“Until a few years ago, it was unimaginable such investments were to be carried out in the electricity grid, because the last investment here took place when the country was electrified back in 1967. It took reforms, it took the sacrifices of many families to settle the unpaid bills and gradually start to completely change the whole path to the future,” Prime Minister Rama said.

Within the summer season, the beneficiaries of the project will finally have a high quality of electricity supply, a guarantee for the agricultural and livestock development of the area as well.