MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Enel SpA will build a coal-fired power plant in Albania as part of its strategy of growth in southeast Europe, a spokesperson for Enel said. The power plant will have a capacity of 1,300 megawatts, she added.

Enel said today its chief executive Fulvio Conti and Albanian economy minister Genc Rulia signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the development of the Albanian energy sector.

The MoU was signed in the presence of the Italian and Albanian prime ministers.

The new power plant will provide electricity to satisfy growing power consumption in Albania and to serve nearby countries, Enel said.

Italy's electricity grid operator Terna SpA has plans to build an interconnector between Italy and Albania.

In subsequent comments, Conti said Enel's investment in constructing the plant 'will depend on the capacity (and) could reach 1 bln eur'.

The World Bank and other development banks could help fund the plant, he said in comments on Radio 24, adding that if these banks do contribute this would reduce Enel's investment.

'It is a very important deal for the future of Enel in a region of strong growth. Albania has a strong deficit in electric energy and we are putting ourselves forward as a privileged supplier,' he said.




What do you guys think??? Will this actually do good to us or not??

Having ENEL involved make this project more likely then the other proposed ones, however the pollution from burning coal remains a problem. BTW are any of the coal mines in the country still operating?

why so much pollution. we pollute our country and the electricity gets imported to italy.

^^

The new power plant will provide electricity to satisfy growing power consumption in Albania and to serve nearby countries, Enel said.

...

Albania has a strong deficit in electric energy and we are putting ourselves forward as a privileged supplier ...

Ok so we will have electricity 24/7 and make money from giving electricity to Italy?

I guess so. I think that the link between Albania and Italy is the best thing about this deal, then Albania's electricity net will be linked with all of western europe.

Having ENEL involved make this project more likely then the other proposed ones, however the pollution from burning coal remains a problem. BTW are any of the coal mines in the country still operating?

I don't remember which article I read that it said that it was supposed to run on imported coal.

why so much pollution. we pollute our country and the electricity gets imported to italy.

Well take your pick. Pollute some of the environment and have power, or don't pollute the environment and have no power. And all these so called environmentalists which seem to be of fashion in Albania lately, should start addressing more acute and present problems like for example all the trash that people throw everywhere or all the old diesels that they drive or ...anyway you get my point. Obviously, a power plant will pollute. Unfortunately, there is not enough wind, hydro or solar power to suffice for all of Albania. At least not a price Albania can afford. And since people get up in arms anytime nuclear power (the cleanest non-renewable energy source at the moment) is mentioned, this is the only option left.

well natural gas is the best option as of this time.

Modern coal power plants are relativly clean...The coal is to come from South Africa...The coal in Albania from what I heard is not of the quality good enough to burn cleanly.

Anyway...why is there a separate thread about this?? Its not that important...its just one of several TECs planned.

Well take your pick. Pollute some of the environment and have power, or don't pollute the environment and have no power. And all these so called environmentalists which seem to be of fashion in Albania lately, should start addressing more acute and present problems like for example all the trash that people throw everywhere or all the old diesels that they drive or ...anyway you get my point. Obviously, a power plant will pollute. Unfortunately, there is not enough wind, hydro or solar power to suffice for all of Albania. At least not a price Albania can afford. And since people get up in arms anytime nuclear power (the cleanest non-renewable energy source at the moment) is mentioned, this is the only option left.

Agreed, the crappy diesel fuel still used in the country combined with the amount of trash around (burned or left rotting) pollutes much more the place then a coal powered power plant will.