Moglice hydropower plant, the largest of the two hydropower plants in the Devoll hydropower project and one the highest of its kind in the world, started today the commercial and production operations, delivering its renewable power to the Albanian grid. With an estimated annual generation capacity of 450 GWh of power from renewable sources, this hydropower plant marks another milestone in strengthening Albania’s electricity system.
Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku paid a site visit to closely inspect the project’s final stage.
“Today is really a special day for us as we concluded the test phase of the Moglice hydropower project and we usher a new stage of commercial operations and generation of renewable power. We have drawn on Statkraft’s long experience, as well as we have enjoyed the Albanian state support and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy in particular, because such a major renewable energy project requires strong commitment from the design stage to its final completion. The project in itself complies with all international standards, both during the construction phase and the phase when we had to take over efforts to reduce environmental and social impacts on the community we coexist with. Parallel investments have been carried out to construct the hydropower plant but also provide support forthe community” the representative of the company Statkraft said.
Because of the project’s specifics, the project managers have harnessed various expertises in building this major renewable energy project.
“The Moglica dam is one of the highest of its kind in the world. Its asphalt-core rock-filled structure is around 167 meters high. The reservoir has a storage capacity of around 375 million cubic meter of water. The area’s geology has been very challenging and international expertise was needed. Therefore, some experts from 23 nations around the world with expertise in building such major projects were hired,” Statkraft representative went on saying.
The project manager said that a total of 2500 workers, 2200 of them Albanians, were employed during the construction phase of the project.
“When you came here, you have also seen the dam of the Banja hydropower plant that is also part of the Devol hydropower project. The dam of Banjo HPP is 80 meter high, whereas this one is around twice as high or 167 meters. The technical difference regarding this dam is that it is an asphalt-core filled with onsite rock and solid materials. The upper dam discharger that becomes operational in the event of emergencies, is around 320 meters long extending down to the lower discharger gate. The reservoir itself has a full storage capacity of around 360 million cubic meters, whereas Banje HPP dam has a capacity of 400 million cubic meters. Along with the technical project, a series of environmental and social activities have taken place, including 21 replacement houses in Maliq. We have also built around 300 km or rural roads linking various villages in the area after being affected by the Devoll hydropower plant project and we have planted and rehabilitated around 540 hectares of forests,” he said, adding that work has now entered the final completion stage. “We are now at the completion stage of the project and we expect to complete whole project by end of this year. We are completing the commission work, yet the power generation has already started,” the project manager said.
“In fact, when work started we had to act and solve a series of issues in a bid to ease the entire process, because, as you remember, the project met several major problems, construction of the road first and foremost, as well as a another string of issues, but I am very pleased to hear it also from the company representatives that despite the perception, they have felt much better in Albania rather than in many other countries in terms of the government’s seriousness, quick reaction and transparency,” PM Rama said.
The Moglicë Power Plant will receive its water through a 10.7 km long tunnel from the Moglicë reservoir. Moglicë HPP will use two Francis turbine units. The planned installed capacity is 184 MW with an average generation of 450 GWh/year.
Further strengthening of Albania’s power system will continue with the Skavice HPP, a major renewable energy project which remained stillborn for more than five decades. Construction of Skavice HPP is set to kick off next year once the detailed engineering design completes.
