Albania's government will re-offer four hydroelectric plants for sale after a previous investor withdrew from bargaining.
HydroWorld.com reported in June that the country's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy was looking to sell the plants, which include the Bistrica 1 and 2, Ulez and Shkopet hydroelectric facilities.
The government did not disclose the name of the party that left the deal, but sources say the investor was worried about the partnership it would have with state-owned utility Korporata Elektroenergjitike Shqiptare (KESH), to whom it would be selling power produced by the four hydropower projects.
Sources say tensions between KESH and state-run transmission company Operatori Sistemit Transmetimit (OST) and distributer CEZ Shperndarje -- a unit of Czech CEZ -- are also to blame.
The four hydropower projects have a combined output capacity of about 80 MW and will be offered for sale Dec. 10.
Reuters says Austria's Verbund AG and Andritz Hydro, France's Compagnie Nationale du Rhone, Italy's Tozzi Sud Spa, and Turkey's Limak Energy and Kurum have expressed interest in buying the plants.
Also in Albania, HydroWorld.com reported in October that Devoll Hydropower Sh.A has selected Mott MacDonald and Coyne et Bellier as owner's engineer for the development of a 280-MW hydropower project along the Devoll River.
