News, January 2025
On 22.01.2025, based on order No. 9 of the Minister of MEI, Ms. Belinda Balluku was appointed as the new members of the ALBCOLD for the period 2025 – 2029.
After the new reorganization and appointment of the new members of the ALBCOLD, on 31.01.2025, the ALBCOLD chairman organized the first meeting of 2025. At this meeting, several main issues were analyzed and reviewed as follows:
1. The work program of the ALBCOLD and PTCD for 2025
The presented work program of the ALBCOLD was discussed and reviewed by all members of the ALBCOLD who gave their opinions to have a program that will respond to the current problems of safety and control of dams in the country, cooperation with national and international institutions, the engagement of the ALBCOLD in ICOLD activities, where emphasis was placed on active participation in the 28th ICOLD congress in Chengdu, China in May 2025. Also, there was extensive discussion regarding the annual report to be submitted to the Council of Ministers as well as the need for reform to be carried out in the dam sector according to the recommendations of European experts and the best experiences in Europe such as in Italy, Switzerland, France, etc.
For more detailed information, please click on Decision No. 1 of the ALBCOLD, dated 31.01.2025 here
2. Approval of the Supervisor of the works for the Rehabilitation of the Gadurova Dam in the Municipality of Mallakaster
In accordance with Law No. 8681, dated 02.11.2000 “On the Design, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Dams and Dams” and DCM No. 147, dated 18.03.2004 “Approval of the Regulation on the Safety of Dams and Dams”, Article 20 and 27, the ALBCOLD considered the Request of the Municipality of Mallakaster for the approval of the supervisor of the construction works for the Rehabilitation of the Gadurova Dam which is used by the Municipality of Mallakaster. The supervisor of the works “SELAS” shpk with NIPT J71826005F and with Legal and Technical Manager Eng. Vladimir Agalliu, appointed by the Municipality of Mallakaster to supervise the works for the rehabilitation of the Gadurova dam used by this Municipality, according to the documentation submitted to the ALBCOLD, it results that he is experienced in the construction works of hydrotechnical works and especially of dams and is equipped with the relevant license. After discussions of all members present, ALBCOLD decided to approve the request of the Municipality of Mallakaster for the appointment of the company “SELAS” shpk as the Supervisor of the Construction Works for the rehabilitation of the Gadurova dam. At the same time, the ALBCOLD decided to request the Municipality of Mallakaster that upon completion of the works, the Works Supervisor should prepare a full report accompanied by all relevant documents and a copy of this report should be sent to the ALBCOLD and the Inspection Team according to the requirements of Article 20 of the above DCM as well as to carry out the Inspection of the works according to the requirements of Article 24 of the above DCM and to submit the as built drawings after the completion of the works foreseen for the rehabilitation of this dam as well as the submission of the Inspection Act of the works for approval to the ALBCOLD.
For more detailed information, please click on Decision No. 2 of the ALBCOLD, dated 31.01.2024 here
3. Review of the problems found in the Bovilla dam during the site visit
During the inspection carried out at the Bovilla dam, it was found that the monitoring of this large and very important dam is not carried out in accordance with the requirements of the above legislation. For many years, no geodetic, seismic, hydrogeological and geological monitoring has been carried out at the dam with instruments. The instruments of the dam monitoring systems are out of function. The TWC team that administers this dam has not monitoring data with dam instruments for more than 10 years. There is no alarm system in the dam and the area below it for civil emergencies, although, based on the legislation in force, this dam, with a height of 91 m and a reservoir with a water volume of more than 78 million m3, is considered a object of special importance. KKDM | Rr “Abdi Toptani”, Nr.1, Tiranë | www.albcold.gov.al Fq: 2/2 Also, during the site visit, it was noted that on the right side of the dam, approximately 500 m away from it, there is a large crack in a rock massif, the problem of which has been identified for years by the Albanian Geological Survey and TWC, but to date no measures have been taken to monitor the size of this crack. During the field inspection, some filling and concrete works for a tourist footpath in the area of the spillway were found, which create problems for the functioning of the spillway during the use of the dam as well as for the safety of the movement of people who are not TWC personnel. After discussions of all members present, ALBCOLD decided to require TWC and the Municipality of Tirana:
• To take urgent measures for the supply and installation of the dam monitoring instruments required in the above legislation as well as the monitoring of the dam with instruments.
• To take urgent measures to supply and install a modern alarm system on the dam and in the area below it with real-time and online notification.
• Immediately suspend the works of the pedestrian road to the area of the spillway and return the area to the condition specified in the original project.
For more detailed information, please click on Decision No. 3 of the ALBCOLD, dated 31.01.2024 here
4. Determination of the Criteria that must be met by the technical management units for the safety and control of large dams during their use.
During 2024, through the Reports submitted by the dam users, it was found that in many large dams, there are no technical management teams or units in many of the dam users that are responsible for the control, maintenance, use, monitoring and safety of large dams. Based on Article 5 of the DCM No. 147, dated 18.03.2004, it is clearly determined that in each Ministry and Institution that administers dams, a dam safety group must function, composed of hydrotechnical engineers and engineers of other specialties licensed by the MIE. Currently, there is no such group functioning in the MIE or in the structures under its jurisdiction that administer the dams for hydropower production. At the same time, point 2 of Article 5 and Article 29 of the above-mentioned DCM require that every user of large dams, including state enterprises, private limited companies, concessionaires, drainage boards, municipalities that administer and use large dams, must have functioning technical management units composed of engineers with hydrotechnical specialties and other specialists. After discussions of all members present, the ALBCOLD decided to require the users of large dams used for hydropower production and high-risk water supply dams to have in operation for a dam or group of large dams, technical management units composed of at least 3 Engineers with work experience of not less than 5 years in the field of civil engineering. The duties of the members of this unit should be defined in the Regulation on the use, maintenance, monitoring and safety of large dams approved by the ALBCOLD according to Article 29 of the DCM No. 147, dated 18.03.2004.
For more detailed information, please click on Decision No. 4 of the ALBCOLD, dated 31.01.2024 here
