Administrative Court Issues Verdict: No HPPs in Osumi Canyons

TIRANA, July 31
The Administrative Court upheld a verdict in favor of Osumi Canyons. The verdict issued on Monday, July 30 accepted the decision of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy on the annulment of a contract on the construction of two Hydro Power Plants in Osumi Canyons.
On its part, the company took the case to the Administrative Court claiming that it should nullify MIE’s decision. The Administrative Court did not accept any of the points included in the private company’s request. Hence it proclaimed the verdict on the partial annulment of the contract in favor of the protection of the natural heritage of Osumi Canyons. The reaction of official authorities followed the objections of local people, civil society and sports groups that do rafting in Osumi River, one of the top tourist destinations in Albania. The public reaction caused the withdrawal of the government from the power project that would destroy the canyons.
HPPs in protected areas and national parks has been a hot potato in Albania during the recent years, following the construction of HPPs in Valbona, and plans for the construction of Kalivaci HPP in Vjosa River.
News Source: TCh

Photo Credit: The Albanian