The Dragobia power plant under construction in Valbona National Park, the construction of which has now been brought to a judicial halt.
© Mirjan AliajThrough the untouched Albanian Alps in the Northern part of the Adriatic country runs the Valbonia river which yet maintained its wild and original nature. However, dam projects pose a constant threat to Albania’s beautiful river. In 2017, the Albanian conservation organisation TOKA and affected residents filed a suit in the Albanian administrative court against the construction of the Dragobia Energy hydropower plant – and they won their case!
On 6 June 2018, the Appeals Court ruled to stop immediately all the construction work on the hydropower plants in Valbona Valley National Park. The Court´s reasoning: irregularities in the issue of the environmental impact assessment as well as a lack of involvement of affected residents. This is the next hopeful court ruling to protect Albania’s wild rivers following a similar verdict regarding the hydropower plant Poçem at the Vjosa river.
For more information on the campaign “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” click here.