News

This article, published first in mid-Novemer in the magazine Undark, explores why some highly developed country have started efforts to take down hydroelectric dams and why countries like Albania insist on repeating the mistakes that are now costing fortunes to rectify. It also prominently features the Vjosa and efforts to save it. Enjoy!

After successfully preventing the construction of two big dam projects inside Mavrovo National Park – one of Europe’s oldest national parks – its rivers and creeks are still threatened by low performing hydro projects (“small hydro”). Low performing plants are being promoted under the disguise “small is beautiful”, but they are just as devastating to smaller creeks than big plants are to large rivers. There is nothing green about them, especially not within the boundaries of a national park.

Last Sunday, on October 29, the Albanian Minister for Energy announced, that the Kalivaç dam on the Vjosa is to be constructed by the Turkish company Ayen Enerji, in cooperation with the Albanian company Fusha. Ayen Enerji is the same company which already failed the Poçem HPP

For everyone who cannot attend the Vjosa concert in Tirana in person tonight: the Deutsche Welle will broadcast the concert in parts live, including interviews with the musicians prior to the concert. Tune in at around 6:15pm at https://www.facebook.com/dw.shqip/