The Vjosa River BEAUTIFUL, UNKNOWN AND THREATENED. Vjosa River, Downstream Kalivaçi Construction site. Photo: B.Hoxha

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The Vjosa River BEAUTIFUL, UNKNOWN AND THREATENED Vjosa River, Downstream Kalivaçi Construction site. Photo: B.Hoxha The Vjosa River in Albania is one of Europe s last living wild rivers.

1 The Vjosa River BEAUTIFUL, UNKNOWN AND THREATENED Vjosa River, Downstream Kalivaçi Construction site. Photo: B.Hoxha The Vjosa River in Albania is one of Europe s last living wild rivers. Along its entire course of over 270 kilometers it is untamed and free flowing and characterized by beautiful canyons, braided river sections, islands, oxbows and meandering stretches. In some areas the riverbed expands over more than 2 km in width. What makes this river really outstanding internationally is the fact, that almost all its tributaries are free flowing and intact as well, creating a living rivers network that is without par in Europa. However, very little is known about its biodiversity or crucial physical processes such as sediment transport or groundwater systems. We might know more about rivers in the Amazon than about the Vjosa catchment. The main source of the Vjosa River is in Greek territory near the village of Vouvoussa (the ancient name of Vjosa). On its first 80 kilometers the river flows through Greece and is named Aoos. In Albania it turns into Vjosa. The two main tributaries in Albania are the Drinos River, which also originates in Greek territory, and the Shushica River, which is located in the mountainous area between Vlora and Gjirokastra.

2 The Vjosa is draining a total area of 6,700 km² in Albania and Greece and discharges an average of 204 m³/s into the Adriatic Sea. The Vjosa itself serves as border of many protected areas (3 of which are designated as National Park IUCN category II). Since the river itself is without a special protection status, it is facing growing pressure from human impact. The absence of an integrated, bilateral management plan for the entire river basin has given investors the golden opportunity to engage in a rapid construction "boom" of hydropower in the valley. Threats Dam construction currently constitutes the major detrimental threat of this area. 8 dams are planned along the Vjosa itself while 23 additional HPPs are projected on its tributaries 4 of which are already finished while another 4 are under construction. Thus, a total of 38 HPPs are foreseen in the Vjosa catchment: 6 new dams are projected on the Greek side of the catchment, while there is only one existing, the Pigai large Dam and 31 on Albanian territory. On the map above are presented hydropower plants in the Aoos-Vjosa Basin, Source: Ministry of Environment in Albania, PhD study Yδρολογική Ανάλυςη κ Διερεύνηςη του Yδροςυςτήματοσ Αώου Βοϊδομάτη - Δημήτριοσ Λεονταρίτησ On the map above are presented hydropower plants in the Aoos-Vjosa Basin, Source: Ministry of Environment in Albania, PhD study Water Deviation and Research on Aoos-Boidomati River Systems- Dimitris Leontaritis

Aoos - Projects in Greece The first interference with the Aoos river was the construction of the Pigai HPP, very close to the Aoos main source, in 1984.

There are new plans to deviate another 70 million m 3 annually from Arkudoreuma, the main tributary of the Aoos River.

through the Pigai reservoir into the Metsovitikos River. 4 HPPs are planned along the first diversion and another 2 along the second.

3 Aoos - Projects in Greece The first interference with the Aoos river was the construction of the Pigai HPP, very close to the Aoos main source, in Approximately 100 million m 3 of water is retained annually and supplies the lake of Aoos' Hydroelectric Station. There are new plans to deviate another 70 million m 3 annually from Arkudoreuma, the main tributary of the Aoos River. This deviation is twofold: 50 million m 3 /year will be channeled from Pigai reservoir to Ioannina Lake and then released into the Kalamas River and another 20 million m 3 /year will be diverted through the Pigai reservoir into the Metsovitikos River. 4 HPPs are planned along the first diversion and another 2 along the second. So in total, 6 new HEPPs are planned, while one is already built: the large HPP of Pigai. Deviation plan of Aóos River. Source: D.Leontaritis 2013 The Kalivaç project The first projected hydropower plant that entered the implementation process is the Kalivaç project close to the city of Tepelena. The concession of the Kalivaç dam was given in 1997 but the construction was halted several times. Initially, the main source of funding was the Italian Becchetti Group and the Deutsche Bank. Currently, construction works are on hold once again (which they have been for the past 4 years), and the level of completion is still only at 30%. However, according to the plans of the Ministry of Energy, HPP Kalivaç is only one out of 8 large dams (Ministry of Trade and Energy of Albania, 2008) to be built along the Vjosa River. Vjosa River, Downstream Kalivaçi Construction site. Photo: B.Hoxha

Contractor is the Austrian company ENSO Hydro. Along the Bënça River, another tributary of the Vjosa, 5 HPPs are projected. Two of them are already under construction.

4 HPPs on Tributaries In total, 23 HPPs are projected along all of Vjosa s tributaries. Constructions of 4 of them have already started. 6 HPPs are to be built along the Langarica River, two of which have already been finished while one is under construction. Three HPPs are located inside the Hotova Fir National Park. Contractor is the Austrian company ENSO Hydro. Along the Bënça River, another tributary of the Vjosa, 5 HPPs are projected. Two of them are already under construction. Constructor is the Italian company FERRAR The Shushica River is the second largest tributary of the Vjosa after Drinos. 2 HPPs are planned along its upper course closed to Smokthina. Lengarica River, Lengarica HPP Construction site. Photo: B.Guri Our Vision - A Vjosa National Park The Vjosa and its tributaries are without par in Europe. There is no river network like this left on the continent. Thus, this river landscape needs to be protected by the highest possible nature protection category a national park according to the standards of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Together with the local community, scientists and the support from all over Albania, we want to make it happen. It shall be preserved for the benefit of nature but also for the people of the Vjosa valley and their potential for sustainable socioeconomic development. However, a national park can only truly exist if it Vjosa River, Upstream. Photo: kept free from dams. Industries such as eco-tourism or non-intensive agriculture can be an effective alternative for sustainable economic development of local communities. In future, thousands of tourists from all over Europe will come to visit this last wild river.

5 Save the Blue Heart of Europe The rivers on the Balkan Peninsula are among the best preserved in all of Europe. More than 80% of all Balkan rivers are in very good or good morphological condition. However, this European heritage is at risk. We have evidence of over 630 hydropower projects that are planned between SLO and AL. Taking into account all the small-scale projects, the actual number rises to a few thousand projects to be implemented. Therefore, the international NGOs Riverwatch and EuroNatur have launched the international campaign Save the Blue Heart of Europe in cooperation with several national partner organizations, such as EcoAlbania in Albania. The goal is to protect the most valuable rivers and river stretches on the Balkans from destruction through uncontrolled hydropower development. More information: Contact: info@balkanrivers.net Olsi Nika, o.nika@ecoalbania.org Cornelia Wieser, cornelia.wieser@riverwatch.eu

6 Annex. List of the planned hydropower projects along the Vjosa River and its tributaries. (Source: Albanian Ministry of Environment) No. Company Name River Basin HPP Name Location Tributary 1 "Hasi Energy" sh.p.k Vjose Langarice '57.28"N 20 28'37.34"E Langarice 2 "Hasi Energy" sh.p.k Vjose Langarice '38.80"N 20 28'4.30"E Langarice 3 "Ballkan Green Energy" Vjose Smokthine 40 18'28.80"N 19 45'28.02"E Smokthine Water Amount (m 3 /s) 4 "Ballkan Green Energy" Vjose Barmash 40 16'16.15"N 20 34'9.74"E Barmash "Ballkan Green Energy" Vjose Rajan 40 15'59.53"N 20 31'18.07"E Rajan "Albania Green Energy" Vjose Smokthine 40 16'49.07"N 19 42'44.57"E Smokthine "Hasi Energy" sh.p.k Vjose Langarice 40 17'18.10"N 20 29'3.27"E Langarice 8 "Radici Energie" sh.p.k Vjose Progonat Lekdush 40 12'39.03"N 19 58'8.25"E Bence 9 "Radici Energie" sh.p.k Vjose Bence (Nivice) 40 15'17.53"N 19 52'38.28"E Bence 10 "Radici Energie" sh.p.k Vjose Bence (Salari) 40 18'7.03"N 19 53'43.29"E Bence 11 "Peshku Picar 1" sh.p.k Vjose Picar '49.39"N 20 3'6.99"E Kolonja "Energia Pulita" sh.p.k Vjose Gostivisht 40 18'35.28"N 20 28'37.13"E Langarice "Energia Pulita" sh.p.k Vjose Langarice 40 16'20.10"N 20 28'46.81"E Langarice "Energia Pulita" sh.p.k Vjose Ura e Dashit 40 17'42.84"N 20 28'17.65"E Langarice 8 15 "Tulla T" sh.p.k Vjose Radove 40 9'21.52"N 20 33'40.06"E Carshove 16 "Tulla T" sh.p.k Vjose Carshove 40 8'14.24"N 20 33'5.30"E Carshove 17 "Ferrar" sh.p.k Vjose Bence 40 15'5.22"N 19 59'50.25"E Bence 18 "Ferrar" sh.p.k Vjose Tepelene 40 17'51.83"N 20 0'39.53"E Bence 19 "Qeramika e Jugut" Vjose Shtika '55.99"N 20 14'8.78"E Shtika "Qeramika e Jugut" Vjose Shtika '4.27"N 20 13'41.70"E Shtika "Qeramika e Jugut" Vjose Shtika '30.70"N 20 13'42.93"E Shtika "Qeramika e Jugut" Vjose Shtika '44.15"N 20 12'56.90"E Shtika "Kalivaç Energy" Vjose Kalivaçi 40 23'58.77"N 19 48'1.43"E Vjose 25 License NOT Given Vjose Badëlonja 40 12'25.05"N 20 23'16.25"E Vjose 26 License NOT Given Vjose Kaludhi 40 10'39.34"N 20 26'55.06"E Vjose 27 License NOT Given Vjose Përmeti 40 13'39.92"N 20 21'51.05"E Vjose 28 License NOT Given Vjose Këlcyra 40 18'25.88"N 20 11'8.07"E Vjose 29 License NOT Given Vjose Dragoti 40 17'33.50"N 20 4'49.10"E Vjose 30 License NOT Given Vjose Poçemi 40 29'35.76"N 19 43'43.82"E Vjose 31 License NOT Given Vjose Selenica 40 32'31.06"N 19 39'18.94"E Vjose

The Vjosa River in Albania

The Vjosa River in Albania Europe s Wild jewel - beautiful, unknown and threatened The extensive braided river section near Tepelena would drown in a reservoir of the future Kalivaç dam. (Romy Durst) Major