Hydropower dams are not the cause of the recent floods. they have a positive impact for the reduction of risk.

In January 2026, in some areas of our country there were major floods which have also caused a debate regarding their causes.

On January 23, 2026, Mr. Arjan Jovani, President of EURCOLD and former Chairman of KKDM gave an interview to Monitor Magazine where he emphasized that Hydro-power Dams were not the cause of the recent floods in our country but they have had a positive impact on reducing the risks that these floods could cause. Mentioning the fact that during these days of January 2026, more than 3800 m3/sec have come to the Drin River and than 850 m3/sec to the Devoll River at a time when the discharges from the dam operators into these rivers have been no more than 1200 m3/sec at the Vaui i Dejes HPP and no more than 300 m3/sec at the Banja HPP.

Based on a technical analysis of the situation, Mr. Jovani explained the legal requirements and their implementation in relation to the management of the large and maximum inflows that came during this time in these two cascades.

Also, in this interview, Mr. Jovani has raised concerns regarding the institutional response in the dam sector as well as the problems of the functioning of several institutions in this sector, the coordination and timely planning of measures that should be taken before the occurrence of such events with major consequences in the Albanian economy.

To see this interview published in “Monitor” magazine, click here.