Saraqini meet with the investors in small HPPs

The Minister of Economy, Valon Saraqini within the frames of the project “Open with the business” held yesterday a meeting with representatives of the companies that invest in construction of small HPPs. On the meeting was discussed about the benefits, challenges and open question of the investors during the realization of the investments and beside the Minister Saraqini on the first meeting with the companies from this sector was also present the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Abdilaqim Ademi.

In the period 2009 to 2012, the Ministry of Economy based on five implemented procedures has signed in total 70 Concession Agreements for use of water for generation of electricity from small hydro power plants of which 16 small HPPs are constructed with installed power of 11 MW and total investment of € 20 million in Kriva Palanka, Makedonska Kamenica, Vinica, Resen, Struga, Demir Hisar, Lipkovo, Cucer Sandevo, Mavrovo, Rostuse, Debarca, Ohrid, Probistip.

“Under construction are 14 small HPPs with total installed capacity of 16 MW and envisaged investment of € 25 – 30 million in Sopiste, Vinica, Mavrovo and Rostuse, Resen, Cucer Sandevo, Berovo, Ohrid, Probistip, Tearce, Lipkovo, of which one part will be completed by the end of 2013 and the others until the first half of 2014. The remaining 36 locations for construction of small HPPs are in final phase of obtaining the necessary documents for start of construction. The numbers show that it is about serious investment realized in deadline of two years from foreign and domestic capital while every involved institution secures maximum support during the realization”, emphasized Saraqini.

According to Minister Saraqini, the largest assistance from the Ministry of Economy during the procedures for obtaining the necessary documents comes from the constant communication with the institutions that issue the licenses, for the purpose of acceleration of the procedures that will accelerate the very construction of the small HPPs while several of the concessionaires that had open issues with separate municipalities and institutions thanks to the persistence of the Ministry of Economy are overcome so some of the small HPPs in those municipalities are constructed and some are under construction at the moment.

Minister Ademi emphasized that such practice in most part contributes for exchange of experience in certain areas at the same time informing about the started cooperation with the International Financial Corporation (IFC) that will result with preparation of tender documentation and model agreement, as well as, web site with all of the necessary information for the small HPPs.

“By the end of September or the beginning of October will be launched the new tender with new locations of which 80 are already prepared to be offered to the interested parties”, informed Ademi, adding that such meetings are useful for everyone as for the concessionaires also for the state institutions that need to be informed for the experience on terrain in order to be able current to exceed certain open issues.

The representative of Small HPPs Doo Skopje DOO – Skopje informed that their company has signed 7 Concession Agreements for construction of small HPPs and that they are the first who constructed small hydro power plant with concession. At the same time he welcomed the initiative of the Ministry of Economy for start of the project “Open with the business” considering that in such manner will be achieved faster further realization of the projects although presently the state institutions within the frames of their possibilities in timely manner meet their needs when faced with certain problems.

energjia.al, 03.09.2013