Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia (E&E) at USAID, Ambassador Erin E. McKee kicked off her visit to Albania with a tour of the Vau i Dejës Hydroelectric Power Plant.

This hydropower plant is managed by KESH (Albanian Power Corporation), which USAID has equipped with the tools needed to respond to future market opportunities and ensure a reliable flow of energy to Albanians.

During the visit, Ambassador McKee met with KESH director Ergys Verdho, Bechtel Project Manager Hugh Morrison and Business Development Manager Ela Ruci, and other representatives from KESH and Bechtel to discuss the development of the Skavica Hydropower Plant, which presents a great opportunity to strengthen Albania’s energy independence as the country moves towards EU accession.

The construction of HPP Skavica is a major project with an impact not only on the electricity system but also on the national economy of the country. This is an early project, which will not only meet the demand of the Albanian market in terms of energy production but will allow the country to become an exporter of renewable energy.

The Skavica Hydropower Project (HEC Skavica) will be built upstream of the cascade of three existing dams owned and operated by KESH. HPP Skavica aims to provide additional electricity generation, prevent downstream flooding, and optimize the cascade by being a control dam.

In July 2021, in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, and Justin Siberell, Regional President for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East of Bechtel Infrastructure, a contract was signed for the first phase of this project between the Albanian Power Corporation and the American company Bechtel Infrastructure.

The signing of the first phase contract for the construction of HPP Skavica was done by the Director of KESH, Ergys Verdho for the Albanian side and Andrew Patterson, Global Business Development Manager and Large Project Manager for Bechtel Infrastructure.