Czech Wins Albania Power Distributor Bid

Czech wins Albania power distributor bid

TIRANA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) — The Czech power utility CEZ has won a 76 percent stake in Albania’s power distributing arm with 102 million euros (150 million US dollars), local media reported on Monday.

Italy’s ENEL was dropped because its technical bid didn’t ” fully meet” the conditions set by Albania, said a government commission which oversaw the bidding.

Albania hopes the sale of the distributing arm of state-owned power utility KESH will gradually reduce its chronic power shortages in the western Balkan country.

Before 1990 Albania even exported hydropower to its Balkan neighbours, but its has suffered chronic power problems since then due to soaring domestic consumption, non-payment of bills, ageing system and poor maintenance.

Albania depends heavily on hydropower, with 90 percent of its electricity produced in the north from hydroelectric plants which suffer from low rainfall and outdated technology in recent years.

The last plant built in Albania was some 30 years ago and there has been little investment in the grid since.

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