Arjan Baçi was appointed this Thursday as the State Administrator of the Tirana incinerator, which was previously seized by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK).
In a statement to the media, Baçi mentioned that it was the court that appointed him as the administrator, and immediately after the announcement, he will continue his work to ensure that the waste processing at this incinerator is not disrupted.
Among other things, he noted that one of the issues he has observed is that the municipalities in the Tirana region are debtors to the company, and he mentioned that letters are being sent to hold them accountable.
“The court has decided that the management of this company should be undertaken by the company responsible for managing seized assets, and I have been chosen as the administrator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior. The work is proceeding normally, all contracts are being followed, and the delays are being addressed to ensure the treatment of urban waste in Tirana. One of the issues we have encountered is that the Tirana municipalities are debtors to this company, and we are sending letters to hold them accountable, as their non-payment would lead to chaos regarding waste management,” Baçi told media.
SPAK seized the incineration plant located in Tirana on August 1, 2023. After investigations, citizens Klodian Zoto and Mirel Mërtiri emerged as he “de facto” owners of the company “Integrated Energy BV.SPV”, which won the concession contract for the construction of the Tirana incinerator and landfill. Zoto and Mërtiri are also the “de facto” owners of its parent company, established in the Netherlands, “Integrated Energy BV”, later changed to “Geogenix BV”.
According to SPAK, Zoto and Mërtiri have used other individuals and companies to conceal their true ownership of the concession company “Integrated Energy BV.SPV”. The anticipated investment of the entire project is 128,248,330 euros (devoid of taxes).
Through investigations, SPAK claims that Klodian Zoto and Mirel Mërtiri are the individuals who have directed and made decisions regarding the concession company “Integrated Energy BV.SPV” and its parent company in the Netherlands, from the moment of their establishment and onwards.
From the evidence collected up to this stage of the investigation, SPAK continues, it is evident that Klodian Zoto, in collaboration with Mirel Mërtiri, has benefited from falsely invoiced tax amounts, totaling 409,428,000 Albanian lek, where Zoto presented and declared forged invoices for work allegedly carried out through another company of his, “Integrated Energy Services”, as a subcontractor of the concession company “Integrated Energy BV.SPV”. At the time of issuing these forged invoices, it is proven that the “de facto” shareholders were Klodian Zoto and Mirel Mërtiri.
Similarly, it has been revealed that Klodian Zoto and Mirel Mërtiri indirectly own the company “F.M.O.”. Evidence has been gathered that these individuals, utilizing illegal gains, have purchased, on behalf of “F.M.O.”, an immovable property, with an area of 611 square meters, valued at 1,000,000 euros, located in the city of Durrës.
During investigations, SPAK has discovered that incinerators’ businessmen Klodian Zoto and Mirel Mërtiri have made indirect payments received as bribes amounting to 491,000 euros to former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj, who is now internationally wanted as being involved in the incinerators’ affair.
Investigations against Arben Ahmetaj were launched in 2022 and the Special Prosecutor’s Office has so far discovered undeclared properties and investments of the former deputy prime minister in 20 years.
He is accused of corruption, money laundering and non-declaration and concealment of assets.
Arben Ahmetaj has held several important positions during the ten years of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s governance in Albania. He has been the Director of Taxation, Minister of Economy and Entrepreneurship, Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Reconstruction.
Ahmetaj’s dossier also involves the name of former Secretary General of the Socialist Party Damian Gjiknuri, a prominent figure criticized by the opposition for his involvement in the incinerators issue. He had previously held the Minister of Energy and Industry portfolio from 2013 to 2017 and subsequently served as the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy for just over a year.
The dossier alleged that in at least two instances, the entrepreneurs awarded incinerator contracts had paid for Gjiknuri’s foreign hotel stays. However, Gjiknuri vehemently denied these claims, stating that these were work-related visits and all expenses were appropriately covered by the ministry.
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