February 20, 2026
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KESH partners with France’s EDF and AFD to develop Albania’s Energy Storage Roadmap

Tirana — In a decisive move toward modernizing its national grid, the Albanian state-owned power utility, KESH (Albanian Electric Power Corp), has finalized a strategic partnership with Électricité de France (EDF) and the French Development Agency (AFD). The collaboration focuses on the development of a comprehensive energy storage strategy, underpinned by a €400,000 grant earmarked by the AFD.

This initiative arrives at a critical juncture for Albania. While the country boasts a near-total reliance on renewable hydropower for domestic production, its lack of grid-scale energy storage remains a significant structural vulnerability. As the global energy transition demands higher flexibility, the partnership aims to bridge the gap between Albania’s current hydro-centric model and a diversified, resilient future.

Engineering Flexibility: The Scope of the Partnership

The primary objective of the agreement is to identify and evaluate the most effective storage technologies suited for Albania’s existing infrastructure. The resulting study will serve as a technical blueprint for the nation’s Energy Storage Strategy, focusing on several key pillars:

  • Renewable Integration: Facilitating the entry of solar and wind energy into a grid historically dominated by water power.

  • System Modernization: Increasing the security of supply and enhancing operational flexibility.

  • Climate Resilience: Improving the long-term sustainability and management of Albania’s vital water resources and assets.

The technical expertise for this transition will be provided by the French state-owned giant EDF, a global leader in low-carbon energy, while the AFD continues to expand its financial and developmental footprint across the Western Balkans.

High-Level Diplomatic Support

The signing ceremony was attended by Nicolas Forissier, the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness. Minister Forissier emphasized that this agreement underscores Albania’s status as a priority partner for France, reflecting Paris’s commitment to supporting the country’s integration into the European Union through the mobilization of technical and financial instruments.

Under the leadership of Viola Haxhiademi, who assumed the role of CEO in late December, KESH is positioning itself to manage significant future capacities. Currently, planned projects—including KESH’s pumped storage capacity in the Drin (Drim) cascade and Statkraft’s Moglica project—represent a potential 1.6 GW of storage capacity.

A Continuing Collaboration

This latest deal builds upon an existing relationship between KESH and the AFD. Last year, the two entities signed an agreement focused on the advanced management of the Drin River cascade, the backbone of Albania’s energy sector. By adding a formal storage strategy to this framework, Albania is taking a sophisticated step toward aligning its energy sector with EU standards and the exigencies of the green transition.

December 27, 2025
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Hidroelectrica to set up joint venture with EDF for 1 GW pumped storage project

After numerous failed attempts for half a century, Romania intends to revive the Tarnița-Lăpuștești pumped storage hydropower project in tandem with France’s EDF. State-owned Hidroelectrica published a proposal to its shareholder assembly to establish a 50%-50% joint venture for the 1 GW endeavor. The utility also intends to buy the Frasin-Pângărați pumped storage facility when Hidro Blue Energy builds it.

The plans for Tarnița-Lăpuștești date back to mid-1970s. According to a feasibility study from 2008, updated in 2014, the pumped storage hydropower plant on the river Someşul Cald in Romania would consist of four units of 250 MW each. After numerous failed attempts, the Ministry of Energy sat with the representatives of Japanese Itochu and French EDF last year to discuss the project.

In November 2024, Romania signed a memorandum of understanding with Itochu. The latest update came from government-controlled hydropower plant operator Hidroelectrica. It has just scheduled an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders for January 27.

Romania may fast-track Tarnița-Lăpuștești project

In a stock exchange filing, Hidroelectrica said it is proposing a joint undertaking with EDF Power Solutions International, where both state-owned companies would have equal stakes.

The location for Tarniţa-Lăpuşteşti is 30 kilometers from Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania’s biggest city. The river is called Meleg-Szamos in Hungarian.

The old study envisages five to seven years of construction. Within a legislative push to unlock dormant hydropower projects, the project could be given a priority status. In that case, it would be exempted from some permits including the obligation to conduct the study all over again.

Hidroelectrica plans to buy Frasin-Pângărați pumped storage hydropower plant upon its commissioning

In another item for the meeting, Hidroelectrica seeks approval for obtaining advisory services with regard to its intention to acquire, upon commissioning, the Frasin-Pângărați pumped storage hydropower plant.

A company called Hidro Blue Energy is working on the project for 300 MW. The location is in Neamț County in the northeast. Lake Bicaz would be the facility’s lower reservoir.

Hidroelectrica said it would update shareholders about the upcoming refurbishment of pumped storage systems Petrimanu, Jidoaia and Lotru, downstream of the Dorin Pavel hydropower plant. The utility has awarded the contract to Electromontaj, with Elin Motoren, Voith Hydro and Butan Grup as subcontractors.

The project is worth EUR 97.9 million, excluding value-added tax.

Hidroelectrica is also rehabilitating hydroelectric plants Gogoșu, Bradișor and Stejaru.

The company has RON 56.23 billion (EUR 11.04 billion) in market capitalization, according to data from the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The government has an 80.1% share.

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December 2, 2025
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Serbia’s Vinča Institute, EDF to cooperate in nuclear energy

During the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris 2025, the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences signed a memorandum of cooperation with Électricité de France (EDF).

The Serbian Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences said its new memorandum of cooperation with French state-owned energy utility EDF establishes a framework for scientific, technological, and educational cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.

The document was signed by the Vinča Institute’s CEO Slavko Dimović and Vakisasai Ramany, EDF’s Senior Vice President for International Nuclear Development.

Four main sectors of cooperation

The deal envisages joint activities in the areas of scientific research cooperation, professional training and development of employees, international exchange, and public communication on nuclear topics, according to the institute.

The goal is to enhance knowledge, develop expertise, and promote informed public discussion about the potential role of nuclear energy in our country, the Vinča Institute revealed in a social network post.

serbia edf france nuclear energy memoradnum dimovic paris
Slavko Dimović and Vakisasai Ramany (photo: Vinča)

The International Institute of Nuclear Energy I2EN, founded by EDF, will play a key role in implementing the educational programs. It will organize joint academic projects, student exchanges, and research visits.

Dimović: The memorandum is a pledge that we are going to support the growth of young scientists and engineers

The Vinča Institute’s CEO Slavko Dimović stressed that the memorandum represents a continuation of the Serbian-French friendship and an important step toward strengthening the institute’s international cooperation and the exchange of knowledge with one of the world’s leaders in the nuclear energy sector.

The Vinča Institute has long stood as a pillar of scientific and nuclear excellence in Serbia and the region, in his view. EDF brings expertise, experience, knowledge and strong commitment to innovation and the future, Dimović added.

“This memorandum is not just a document, it’s a pledge that we are going to learn from each other, to support the growth of young scientists and engineers, and to promote and help public acceptance of nuclear energy in Serbia,” he underlined.

EDF is active in the region

The Government of Serbia and EDF signed a memorandum of cooperation in April 2024. A few months later, in September, EDF and Egis Industries were awarded a contract for a preliminary technical study for considering the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

France and EDF are very active in the energy sector in the region. The company has established cooperation with the Government of Montenegro, and with the country’s power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG). France and Slovenia recently signed a declaration on cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, while EDF is in the race to build the new Krško 2 nuclear power plant.

On a bilateral level, Serbia has established contacts or started cooperation in the nuclear energy sphere with China, France, Russia, Slovenia, the United States, and South Korea.

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October 15, 2025
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EU-Montenegro Investment Conference: 14 partnerships, MoUs signed for energy, sustainable projects

A total of 14 cooperation projects between Montenegrin and European companies have been initiated at the ongoing European Union-Montenegro Investment Conference, including investments in wind farms, solar parks, energy storage, and grids.

The two-day conference, titled Smart Growth, Green Future: Accelerating Investment in Montenegro, was opened today in Luštica, near Tivat, by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić.

Montenegro’s growing potential for strategic, green, and sustainable investments was presented through new partnerships between leading Montenegrin and European companies, according to a press release by the Government of Montenegro.

The Conference was jointly organized by the government and the European Commission, with the support of the Montenegro Investment Agency (MIA).

State power utility EPCG has signed three memoranda of understanding

State-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) has signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs). One was signed with Akuo for the development of several renewable energy projects, including floating solar, a photovoltaic plant, and energy storage.

The second MoU, signed with SS&A Power Group, envisages the development, manufacture, and installation of thermal energy storage, while the third, with Wind Fisher, concerns a new technology for high-altitude wind power generation.

Alcazar Energy signed a memorandum with the government’s project management office for the development and financing of renewable energy projects. CWP Europe and the Montenegrin Investment Agency (MIA) signed a memorandum on the development of the Montečevo solar farm project with battery storage. The company signed a similar agreement for its project in Albania yesterday.

A memorandum was also signed between Čevo Solar and Grawert Jenny & Partner on battery energy storage systems (BESS). A 20 MW/60 MWh battery is being considered.

Four sustainable investment partnerships were also signed

The Ministry of Energy and Mining and EDF will further discuss the issue of modernizing Montenegro’s power distribution network.

Among the signed documents is an MoU on collaboration between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Erste on a Regional Energy Efficiency Program (REEP), as well as cooperation in the field of wastewater management between Suez and MIA.

In addition, four sustainable investment partnerships were also signed: Farm2Fork Montenegro, Station M, Green Logistics Hub, and Northern Investments Compact for Ecology & Resilience (NICER). Green Logistics Hub refers to the Port of Bar, which aims to become the first net-zero port on the Adriatic. NICER concerns the just transition and is led by the Pljevlja Coal Mine.

Von der Leyen: Do not wait for accession to invest in Montenegro

Photo: Bojan Gnjidić/Vlada Crne Gore

The event brought together senior representatives of the Government of Montenegro, the European Union, international financial institutions, as well as prominent European and Montenegrin investors.

“My message is very clear: do not wait for accession to invest in Montenegro, because by then you may miss the opportunities that others will seize,” Ursula von der Leyen noted.

She stressed that by continuing its European journey with determination and speed, Montenegro is making its goal of EU accession attainable.

“Today, we are opening a new chapter of development—we are beginning a major investment cycle, strengthening our ties with the European market even before formally joining the European family. Today, we are bringing our vision of green and smart growth to life. We are doing this together with our most important strategic partner—the European Union, which is also the largest investor in our country,” Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said.

He recalled that the country plans to close all negotiating chapters with the EU by the end of 2026 and become its 28th member state in 2028.

Photo: Bojan Gnjidić/Vlada Crne Gore
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September 12, 2025
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European electricity industry issues Paris Pledge on pumped storage hydropower

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) and Eurelectric launched the Paris Pledge. It is a collective call to action, aimed at unlocking the potential of pumped storage hydropower in Europe. The signatories urge the European Union and national governments to create the right conditions for long-duration storage to meet clean energy goals.

Over 50 utilities, hydropower suppliers and energy-focused associations have signed the Paris Pledge. The document’s alternative headline is Committing to Pumped Storage to Secure Europe’s Clean Energy Future.

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) and Eurelectric – Union of the Electricity Industry launched the initiative. They warned that Europe faces an urgent and growing need for long-duration electricity storage to secure a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy future.

Amid the transition to a renewables-dominated power system, the ability to store and dispatch electricity over long periods will be critical to balance variable generation from wind and solar, ensure grid stability and resilience, and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, the authors stressed. They called pumped storage hydropower or PSH the most important, scalable and cost-effective long-duration electricity storage solution available today. It still provides over 90% of the world’s long-duration electricity storage capacity.

PSH is currently the most important, scalable and cost-effective long-duration electricity storage solution, the industry pointed out

By 2050, around 86% of production capacity in Europe will come from variable sources, according to the material accompanying the Paris Pledge. Encouragingly, 78 pumped storage hydropower projects are under development, for 35 GW overall. The EU accounts for over 32 GW, and the rest is in Switzerland, Norway and Turkey.

The combined pipeline would provide storage capacity in excess of 700 GWh, equivalent to more than 10 hours of consumption of Italy and Spain taken together. There is 3.9 GW in the ready-to-build phase, and 2.8 GW is under construction. Of note, an earlier report showed 52.9 GW of PSH was under development.

The existing capacity amounts to 48 GW, compared to 190 GW globally. In the EU, pumped storage hydropower systems can store 1.2 TWh overall.

Photo: Types of pumped storage (IHA, Eurelectric)

Paris Pledge calls for separate legislation for long-duration energy storage

Among other proposals, the signatories are asking the EU for a dedicated initiative to boost the rollout of electricity storage. They suggested legislation to be separate for long duration, short duration and other solutions.

The Paris Pledge calls on member states to remunerate the provision of system services and security of supply for all time frames. They should eliminate double grid fees on electricity storage technologies and accelerate permitting for PSH, the document reads.

With strong political commitment, Europe can double its pumped storage hydropower capacity in the next 25 years, according to the Paris Pledge. In-person signatories represent EDP, EDF, Iberdrola, Andritz, Enel, Statkraft, Voith, Hydrogrid, Verbund, Landsvirkjun and GE Vernova.

Pumped storage hydropower’s contribution during Iberian Peninsula blackout

During the power blackout in Spain and Portugal on April 28, pumped storage played a pivotal role in balancing and supporting the recovery of the system. In Spain, PSH generated 11 GWh of electricity in the first 12 hours, instead of the planned 12 GWh recharge. Similarly, in Portugal, hydropower and pumped storage covered 80% of the demand in the first ten hours.

Such facilities also made a major contribution to restoring the electricity grid in the entire peninsula, thanks to their so-called black start capability. It allows the power plant to be restarted without relying on external power sources and to reenergise the power system.

“Very few technologies can provide this function. As a result, within a few minutes, the first pumped storage plants were ready for synchronization and awaiting dispatch instruction” from transmission system operators, notes the report published with the Paris Pledge.

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September 8, 2025
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EDF, Westinghouse complete technical feasibility studies for Krško 2 nuclear power plant

Three reactor projects offered by EDF and Westinghouse have been assessed as technically feasible for the site of the future Krško 2 nuclear power plant, according to technical feasibility studies presented by GEN Energija during the announcement of its 2024 results. GEN Group ended last year with a EUR 186 million profit, down 9% from 2023, when it posted a profit of EUR 204.5 million.

GEN Energija, the parent company of GEN Group, noted that the Krško 2 (JEK2) project is going ahead according to the previously confirmed timeline. In October 2024, Slovenia canceled a referendum on building the second nuclear unit.

In January, it was announced that Westinghouse Electric and EDF would conduct technical feasibility studies for the deployment of their reactor models.

In July, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning initiated the preparation of a spatial plan for the second unit of nuclear power plant Krško and invited the public to submit comments.

GEN Energija has now presented the results of the technical feasibility studies. The reactor projects – EDF’s EPR or EPR1200 and Westinghouse’s AP1000 – were found to be technically feasible for the JEK 2 site.

Planinc: Both technologies include cooling by a natural draft cooling tower

According to Vinko Planinc, head of GEN Energija’s New Nuclear Build Division, the studies confirm that the project enables safe and efficient installation within the existing environment, taking into account flood and earthquake protection requirements.

The expected operational lifespan of both proposed reactors is 60 years, but it could be extended to 80 years if conditions are met, he added.

The location will also allow for the appropriate storage of used nuclear fuel, as well as low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Both technologies, he said, use natural draft cooling towers – the most environmentally friendly solution, minimizing the impact on the Sava River and creating the smallest carbon footprint.

The estimated investment from the studies matches the amount in GEN Energija’s study presented in 2024, which projected that JEK 2 would cost at least EUR 9.3 billion for 1,000 MW.

The financing method significantly affects the project’s viability

Regarding an analysis of the JEK2 investment by NGO Mladi za Podnebno Pravičnost (Youth for Climate Justice), Jan Lokar, lead engineer at GEN Energija, said the company estimates the minimum electricity price needed for the project’s economic feasibility at EUR 70.2 per MWh, compared to the NGO’s estimate of EUR 107.

The differences arise primarily from varying assumptions about capital costs, he stressed. GEN Energija expects state support in financing, while the NGO estimate assumes private capital investment.

Paravan: 2024 results exceed planned targets

Photo: GEN Energija

GEN Energija CEO Dejan Paravan presented GEN Group’s business results for 2024. The group had revenues of EUR 2.2 billion, a net profit of EUR 186 million, and added value per employee of EUR 276,000, all exceeding the annual financial targets, he added.

“All our production units operated safely and without major interruptions, reflecting years of investment in knowledge, technology, and maintenance. The important role of GEN Group in Slovenia’s energy supply is confirmed by the fact that in 2024, we reliably supplied Slovenian consumers exclusively with low-carbon electricity at affordable and predictable prices,” Paravan noted.

Alongside the JEK2 project studies, the company said, a small modular reactor (SMR) study is underway, aiming to identify possible locations for this type of reactor in Slovenia.

Photo: GEN Energija
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July 31, 2025
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Montenegro’s EPCG, NTE Energy sign memorandum of understanding

Power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore and Norwegian company NTE Energi AS have signed a memorandum of understanding confirming their mutual commitment to intensifying cooperation in the renewable energy sector in Montenegro.

The memorandum of understanding envisages the exchange of information, coordination of activities, and consideration of specific projects through joint venture Zeta Energy, established by state-owned Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) and NTE Energi.

Zeta Energy operates small hydropower plants Glava Zete and Slap Zete, operational since 2021.

Bulatović: The MoU is an important step in EPCG’s ongoing transformation

The memorandum was signed by EPCG’s CEO Ivan Bulatović and NTE Energi’s CEO Inge Forseth.

According to Bulatović, the focus of the cooperation between the two companies will be the development of the hydropower potential of the rivers Ćehotina, Ibar, and Morača, with the possibility of expanding it to other renewable energy sources.

In the search for stable partnerships and the development of domestic renewable capacities, the memorandum represents a significant step forward in EPCG’s transformation, Bulatović asserted.

In his words, collaboration with a renowned company like NTE Energi aligns with EPCG’s goals.

Forseth: Zeta Energy provides a platform for implementing concrete projects

Inge Forseth, NTE Energi CEO, underlined that his company has an extensive track record in energy and decarbonization. He described Montenegro as an attractive market for sustainable energy development.

By signing the MoU, the two firms are opening a new chapter in their cooperation, he stressed.

Montenegro has enormous natural potential, and Zeta Energy serves as a platform to implement concrete projects for the benefit of the local community and partners, according to Forseth.

EPCG has four HPPs in the pipeline

EPCG recently said it planned to include an international partner in the development of the Komarnica hydropower project. The company cited the experiences of Norway, Austria, and France.

The company has four hydropower projects in the pipeline: Komarnica, Kruševo, Ćehotina, and Sutorina. The first two are the most advanced. Kruševo and Ćehotina could be implemented with EDF.

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June 10, 2025
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Montenegro to bring in international partner for HPP Komarnica project

Montenegro’s state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore plans to include an international partner in the development of the Komarnica hydropower project. The company cited the experiences of Norway, Austria, and France. The plant, with a proposed capacity of 172 MW, is expected to have an annual production of around 213 GWh.

Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) has four hydropower plants in the pipeline: Komarnica, Kruševo, Ćehotina, and Sutorina. The Komarnica and Kruševo projects have made the most progress, but challenges remain. Environmental organizations oppose the Komarnica project, while in September last year, President of EPCG’s Board of Directors Milutin Đukanović noted that the project has been on hold for two years.

Importantly, Kruševo and Ćehotina have been mentioned as investments that could be implemented within a partnership with French state-owned power utility EDF.

EPCG now told Vijesti that it has temporarily withdrawn the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Komarnica project because the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro set a short deadline to revise it.

EPCG  intends to prepare a study on the project’s impact on Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO site

The plan is to include a renowned international partner, in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro, to ensure transparent and professional project implementation, particularly considering the experiences and best practices of countries like Austria, France, and Norway, according to EPCG, which claimed the three countries have successfully aligned environmental standards with energy development.

In addition to supplementing the EIA report, the company plans to conduct a study on HPP Komarnica’s impact on Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO site, in line with the international organization’s methodology. EPCG also intends to prepare the required environmental studies in a way that would match the rules of one of international financial institutions.

EPCG expressed the belief that, due to the differing views on hydropower plant construction, not only in Montenegro but worldwide, the best solution is to implement the projects together with a reputable international partner, and in cooperation with the government. The utility said it would prove its commitment to transparency and adherence to all European Union standards.

If Austria, France, and Norway could achieve compromise, so can Montenegro

EPCG expects to make a decision on the project and continue the process later this year.

The company pointed out that countries such as Austria, France, and Norway succeeded in finding a compromise between environmental protection, development, and necessary investments. Since they did it, EPCG sees no reason why Montenegro could not do the same in cooperation with companies from these countries.

Turning to the benefits of HPPs, EPCG recalled that they ensure the technical reliability and stability of the power system and integration of a significant number of planned solar power plants and wind farms.

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May 16, 2025
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Serbia to soon finish study on use of nuclear energy – minister

The preliminary study on the use of nuclear energy in Serbia should be completed by the end of the second quarter, according to Dubravka Đedović Handanović, the Minister of Mining and Energy.

A preliminary technical study for considering the peaceful use of nuclear energy is being prepared by French state-owned energy utility EDF and engineering company Egis Industries. The two companies won a tender organized by the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović told public broadcaster RTS that the study focuses on three aspects. The first one is developing a roadmap for the implementation of 19 institutional and infrastructural steps for a potential nuclear program.

Experts from Serbia’s TSO EMS are involved in the preparation of the study

The roadmap, in her words, must be in line with the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The second topic is an analysis of available technologies, including conventional nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs), and the third is to consider how a nuclear plant, depending on capacity, could be integrated into the country’s energy system.

Experts from Serbia’s transmission system operator Elektromreža Srbije are providing help in the third part, she noted.

Serbia would need to choose a partner for the development of a nuclear power project

According to Đedović Handanović, SMRs are a technology under development for cheaper facilities, which require less time to be built than conventional reactors.

“It is up to us to look at the advantages and disadvantages of both technologies, of which one is under development and the other is proven in the market, and say what we want to go with. Of course, if all the preconditions are met. Also, finally, with whom, as all the main developers of the technologies are certain companies from different parts of the world,” she stressed.

Baseload energy is crucial for the stability of the energy system

The minister pointed out that the IAEA prescribes clear steps each country must fulfill if it is considering the development of a nuclear program. It means no country can do anything on its own, she added.

“All those institutional and infrastructural prerequisites have to be checked, approved, verified, and ultimately monitored by the IAEA,” Đedović Handanović underlined.

Speaking about the long-term strategy, she recalled that baseload energy is crucial to secure the stability of the energy system. In Serbia it is currently provided from coal and natural gas, while nuclear plants can also play the role.

Natural gas, in her words, will serve as a transitional fuel for baseload energy for another 20-30 years, so it is necessary to find a long-term solution. Nuclear energy is one of the options, but it requires a lot of experience, time, and investment, Đedović Handanović noted.

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April 21, 2025
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Albania’s KESH, France’s AFD sign MoU on hydropower management, energy storage 

Albania’s state-owned power company, KESH, and France’s development agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), have signed a memorandum of understanding on the Drin river cascade management and advanced energy storage planning.

Albania’s three biggest hydropower plants, with a combined capacity of 1.35 GW, are located on the Drin (Drim) river. The Drin cascade consists of the Fierza Hydropower Plant (500 MW), the Koman Hydropower Plant (600 MW), and the Vau i Dejës Hydropower Plant (250 MW).

As part of French Minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad’s visit to Tirana, Albania and France have solidified their action-oriented partnership in the energy sector, agreeing on AFD’s support to KESH in line with Albania’s priorities under its Green Agenda and EU accession roadmap, according to AFD.

With EUR 800,000 in financial support, AFD will mobilize French technical expertise in hydropower infrastructure modernization and digitalization and initiate a peer-to-peer exchange between KESH and Electricité de France (EDF), its French counterpart.

The technical assistance will help upgrade and digitalize KESH’s discharge management

Cooperation between KESH and French hydropower experts sets the stage for cutting-edge cooperation in energy storage and digital modeling, reads the press release.

AFD explained that the technical assistance would support the improvement and digitalization of KESH’s discharge management.

This will optimize electricity generation, mitigate flooding risks in the lower part of the Drin cascade, and develop storage capacity through the assessment and identification of the most suitable energy storage technologies for integration within the existing infrastructure, the agency added.

Haddad: the MoU demonstrates that Albania is a priority for France

Haddad underlined that the MoU demonstrates that Albania is a priority for France, but also the French government’s willingness to mobilize all its operators and financing tools to help the country in its European convergence and EU integration process, he noted.

According to Albania’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Ceno Klosi, France’s support in the energy sector has been steadily growing over the past five years. It already encompasses both structural reforms and flagship projects with different power utilities, he stressed.

The signing was attended by Erald Elezi, Administrator of KESH, Arnaud Dauphin, Director of AFD’s Western Balkans Regional Office, and Catherine Suard, France’s Ambassador to Albania.

In June 2023, Albania’s government signed a EUR 100 million loan agreement for energy sector reforms with AFD and German development bank KfW. Lately, AFD has been very active in the region. In November 2024, it signed agreements in Montenegro, and in August 2024 in Serbia.

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