In three years, the Albanian government has given out three concessions to companies building incinerators – something that has turned into a major source of debates between the government and the opposition, especially after a thorough investigation conducted by the media, served to cast doubts onto the abusive ways through which these concessionary contracts come to existence.
The first concession was given out in 2014 for the incinerator of Elbasan. Initially, ALBTEC ENERGY SHPK made an offer. Then in only 2 months, the government approved the decision for the construction of this incinerator and launched an open call for a concession race. The only company to participate was of course, ALBTEC Energy, which won the contract valued at €22 million euros.
The contract draft foresaw the construction of the incinerator within a 16-month-period, but in the signed contract, parties agreed to extend that to 7-years.
Payments to this company for the construction of the incinerator of Elbasan began in September 2015 and to date, ALBTEC Energy has received over €27 million euros – €5 million euros on top of the original amount agreed to in the contract.
The second concession took place in Fier, back in 2016. INTEGRATED Technology services SHPK, made an offer once again, from the same office as the Elbasan incinerator. The Government called the race, which was only entered by the above-mentioned company, that won the contract valued at €25 million euros.
The contract draft estimated that construction work for this project would be done within a 2-year-timeframe, whereas the final contract extended that to 6 years. Payments to this company began being made in November 2016 and to date, it has received over €30 million euros – another €5 million euros on top of what was originally agreed to in the signed contract.
In 2022, which is the last year of construction according to the contract, another €5 million euros will be forwarded to this company.
The third concession took place in Tirana, in 2017. The Ministry of Environment received a proposal paper from a company, which didn’t even exist at the time of the application and was only officially registered three months later in the Netherlands.
Once again, the Government announced an open call for public tenders and the company won a 30-year-contract valued at €128 million euros. In 2022, the government is expected to pay this company, an additional €12 million euros.
SPAK has begun investigations into these cases and a Parliamentary Inquiry Commission was also formed, in response to a request made by the Democratic Party.
Needless to say, the first meeting called by this commission was characterized by raised tones and heated debates.
Meanwhile, the list of names that will be summoned by the Inquiry Commission have also been announced and will include: PM Edi Rama, former ministers Ahmetaj, Koka, Gjiknuri, former head of waste management agency, Alqi Ballako, Secretary Generaly, Agaçi and mayors, Veliaj, Llatja dhe Subashi.
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