The Albanian Supreme Audit Institution has completed the thematic audit “On the monitoring of the Sasaj HPP, Saranda”, for the period from the start of the concession until 31.01.2025. As a matter of public sensitivity, this real-time audit began immediately after the rupture of the Bunec hydroelectric power plant dam.

The audit was conducted at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE) and the National Agency of Natural Resources (NANR).

This audit identified several deficiencies, which are summarized as follows:

• The retaining structure surrounding the pressure basin had suffered damage, resulting in the spillage of stored water, causing damage to vegetation in the mountain stream as well as to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
• NANR has not conducted sufficient monitoring for the “Sasaj” HPP, but also for other HPPs. The lack of monitoring is related to the concessionaires’ failure to comply with the relevant agreements for periodic submission of documentation, as well as deficiencies in the inspections carried out at these HPPs by NANR.
• The concessionaire has not taken continuous measures for the safety of the constituent works of the “Sasaj” HPP and the prevention of such events.
• NANR inspected the constituent works of the “Sasaj” HPP after the damage, but there is no correspondence regarding the measures that the concessionaire should take, neither with the local government bodies nor with the concessionaire itself for the compensation of the damages.
• The concessionaire has not completed the works and has not put the HPP into operation within the time determined in the agreement, however, the provisions of this agreement for the application of penalties have not been respected.
• The concessionaire has not implemented the contractual obligations regarding the maintenance and periodic investments that should have been carried out in the works of the “Sasaj” HPP.
• From the verification of the documentation and the verification at the facility, it results that the installed power for the “Sasaj” HPP is 8600 kW. Referring to the provisions of the concession contract, the designed and approved power for this work is 5,500 kW. This deviation from the provisions of the contract constitutes a direct violation of the concession agreement and is accompanied by problems of a technical nature, which affect the optimal functioning of the work.

For more information on this audit, follow the link to the full report:

Final thematic audit report “On the monitoring of the Sasaj HPP, Saranda”