The Socialist majority has agreed to back up the opposition’s request to establish a committee of inquiry into concession contracts for waste incinerators.
On Thursday, the request received 117 votes in the 140-seat parliament.
The committee will investigate the contracts for at least three waste incinerators, their implementation, and effects on Albania’s economy.
Exit Explains: Albania’s Three Waste Incinerators
The Albanian government has been paying three concession holders €72 million since 2015 for the construction and operation of three incinerators, two of which have not yet been built, while the other is operating at half capacity.
The plan was that the incinerators would burn waste for energy, creating a revenue stream while dealing with the issue of waste disposal in the country.
All three incinerators were given to the same group of people, creating virtually a monopoly.
The Albanian incinerators were created from no demand, no requirement, and no official proposal, only following a request from a newly set up company, with no capital or experience.
The dubious procedure was further exacerbated by the terms of the contracts, which appeared to favor the companies, to the detriment of the state.
- The government had to start paying the concessionaire before the construction is completed;
- The government has to compensate the concession holders at any time when they do not have any waste to burn.
As a result of these terms, the concessionaires have delayed construction while regularly receiving the government payments.
Albanian Opposition Sets the Stage for Political Battles amid Internal Strife
Last month, Albania’s opposition requested to establish three committees of inquiry. It has so far succeeded in setting up a committee to inquire into the April 25 elections and waste incinerators, but the majority refuses to back up the establishment of the third committee on the government’s loss of its arbitration case against businessman Francesco Becchetti.
The majority MPs have so far walked out of all meetings since the establishment of the committee on the April elections.
Committees of inquiry are a tool for parliament to recommend to the prosecution office that this latter further investigate the evidence and conclusions of the committee.
