Tirana February 9th, 2017
Today It was held the first preparatory court session of the Poçem hydropower issue at the Administrative Court of First Instance.
Environmental organizations EcoAlbania, RiverWatch, EuroNatur and 38 residents affected by the construction of the power plant in December last year filed a lawsuit to the Administrative Court against the construction of Poçem HPP in Vjosa River.
The wide part of the Vjosa River upstream Poçem, the potential reservoir coverage. Photo: © B. Hoxha
After the postponement of the first preparatory session, on February 9th, 2017 the preparatory session was completed successfully. Representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Environment were present at the court where it was made possible the presentation of additional evidence.
Representative of UNDP in Albania observed the first session, while in the next sessions, other international institutions, such as the OSCE, the European Delegation, etc., will follow the continuity of the process.
One of the evidence presented by the Ministry of Energy was and concessionary contract of Poçem hydropower, signed between the Ministry of Energy and the company “Kovlu Energy”, a consortium of the two Turkish companies “Çinar San” and “Ayen Enerji”.
This important document was refused to be available earlier by the Ministry of Energy, although plaintiffs had officially requested it.
At the end of this session the judge decided that the next session, which take place on February 22, 2017, 12:30 h, will be called to take part as a third party in the process, the concessionary company “Kovlu Energy” since it is party to the concessionary contract.
