On 1 December, two people protesting against governments plan to build the Skavica Hydro Power Plant were fined EUR 4,525 for violating COVID-19 protocols.
Some 40 people attended the protest and police called on them to disperse. When they did not, the organisers were fined for organising the event. The two that were fined are Presidents of the Drini i Zi association.
The hydro plant project has encountered strong opposition from residents of the area. While the project will impact their homes and land, they say they have not been consulted or involved in the decision-making process. Some 15,000 families could be forced to move due to the flooding that the construction of the dam will create.
They say that they have no information on the expropriation process and how they will be compensated for their homes and agricultural land.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said construction is scheduled to commence in 2021. He also said it would be built 100% with state funds with a bill running into hundreds of millions. Then, a few months later he said it would be built with US money.
“Tomorrow we will sign an agreement for Skavica with the U.S. The Skavica hydropower plant will be financed by the USA,” Rama stated.
The Skavica hydropower plant is the country’s most strategic energy project, and Albania’s most important water reservoir, holding about 7 billion cubic meters. This makes it the largest reservoir in Europe.
The government has opened several calls for bids for the construction of the Skavica HPP, but failed to finalize a tender contract and has been accused of clientelism and corruption.
Three project ideas existed for the Skavica HPP. The first two foresaw the construction of a single 450 or 350 MW capacity hydropower plant, and a reservoir approximately twice the size of Fierza or as big as Fierza. The first option would require an agreement with North Macedonia, as the planned reservoir would have to go over into North Macedonian territory. A third option would see the construction of two HPPs of a combined capacity below 200 MW and a relatively small reservoir that cannot carry out the Drin river cascade’s regulatory functions.
The government has been widely criticised for the construction of HPPs.
The EC raised concerns regarding permits awarded by the Albanian government to construct potentially highly damaging structures in protected areas. It adds that proper procedures were not followed in awarding such permits, including impact assessment and public consultations. Furthermore, proper environmental legislation has not been approved and culprits of illegal activities have not been held accountable.
Furthermore, there are growing concerns that protests and demonstrations are being targeted by police under the guise of COVID protocols, while political events continue with no issue.
