Austrian companies to invest 85 mln euro for two new HPPs

Energy is the sector with the greatest interest to Austrian business, mainly in construction of Hydro Power Plants.
In April it is expected to begin the implementation of the two HPPs, one in Përmet and another in Mat, an investment that amounts to 85 million euros.
Meanwhile, procedures for another investment of 25 million euros in the construction of hydropower have also been started.
“This has made possible that in the end of 2012, this would provide an investment of 80 million euros, in two small and medium projects, with a capacity of 8.6 and a capacity of 31.3 MW. Two HPPs. One is located in the south of the country and one located in central Albania. We are finishing primary documentation to begin from the implementation of two other projects, with a capacity of 15 MW, which sum the amount of 25 million euros,” IBA investor Sokol Abazaj said.
According to Abazaj, the Austrian investors are showing interest in other areas of the Albanian economy, such as tourism and infrastructure, but the preferences is that of energy.
“The highly favorable conditions in Albania in terms of energy, or in more detail in hydro capacity, are very interesting. It also links the interests of Austrian companies which already are in Central Europe, as the main factor in the construction of hydropower plants and in electricity monitoring,” he said.
Currently, 35 Austrian companies operate in trade and economic activities in Albania, mainly in the sectors of infrastructure, energy, mining industry, banking and insurance.

TV Albanian Screen, 02.03.2013