News, October 2023

On 25.10.2023, the National Committee of Large Dams (ALBCOLD) organized the usual meeting of October 2023. In this meeting, several main issues were analyzed and reviewed as follows:

• Determining the technical standards regarding the control flows for the discharge systems of large dams. ALBCOLD considered the report prepared by the working group appointed at the meeting on 30.08.2023. In the report presented by the working group, the current problems related to the calculation flows for the discharge systems, the experiences in Europe and the world, as well as the necessity of preparing and adopting these standards today, are given. After the discussions of the members present, ALBCOLD decided that the control of the discharge systems capacities in the projects of the implementation of new dams as well as in the projects of rehabilitation of existing large dams should be done based on the number of people in the urban areas below the dams. who are at risk of loss of life according to the table given in this Decision.

For more detailed information, please click Decision No. 36 of ALBCOLD, date 25.10.2023 here

• Examination of the project idea for the reconstruction of the spillway of the reservoir of Bozanxhi – Zhurie. From the review of the documentation presented by the consulting firm Viante Construction & NetGroup, it was found that the project idea presented has fulfilled the requirements of the legislation in force, including the Supply and Installation of the monitoring systems in the dam as well as the Preparedness Plan in case of civil emergencies, including inundation map in the urban area below the dam. ALBCOLD decided to approve the project – idea for the reconstruction of the spillway of the Bozanxhi-Zhurje reservoir dam. ALBCOLD decided to ask the Municipality of Tirana to check the size of the spillway capacities also in the case of flows that may come once in 1000 years

For more detailed information, please click Decision No. 37 of ALBCOLD, date 35.10.2023 here

• Project Idea for the rehabilitation of the Farka dam. The review of the received documentation results that the project idea for the rehabilitation of this dam has fulfilled the requirements of Article 5 of the above law as well as Article 8 of the above DCM. The supporting reports for the seismic, geological, and geotechnical studies are complete and in accordance with the requirements of the legislation in force. The designers have performed the calculations of the flood wave in the case of dam failure, the preparation of the preparedness plan in the case of civil emergencies, etc. After the discussions of the members of the ALBCOLD, it was decided that the Project Idea for the rehabilitation of the dam of the Farka reservoir be approved in relation to the emergency works required for the rehabilitation of the dam provided for in the project, such as the drainage system and the strengthening works on the lower side of the dam, works for the repair of the discharge system and the work of receiving water, the rehabilitation of the curbs and the stability of the slopes, works for the watchman’s cabin as well as works for the supply and Installation of the geological, hydraulic, hydrogeological and HM monitoring systems in the dam. At the same time, ALBCOLD decided not to approve the special works in the dam, provided for in the project, regarding the protection with piles and cementing in the core of the dam due to the lack of data for monitoring the seepage and the behavior of the dam, the conclusion of the designers based on of the stability analysis of the dam is presented within the allowed balance values as well as due to the lack of technical standards for these special works. At the same time, the ALBCOLD decided to ask the Municipality of Tirana to include, during the drafting of the implementation project, the detailed design for the supply and Installation of an alarm system in the dam and in the urban area below it, as well as to carry out the control of the capacity of the spillway in the case of flows that can come once in 1000 years.

For more detailed information, please click Decision No. 38 of ALBCOLD, date 25.10.2023 here

• Problems related to alarm systems in large high-risk dams and the alarm transmission network in urban areas below them. Based on the information received by ALBCOLD from the majority of users of large dams, it appears that more than 150 large dams are at considerable risk in terms of damage and loss of life. 50 of these dams are at high risk and it is necessary to install an alarm system for real-time and online notifications. For the above, ALBCOLD decided to ask the users of these dams given in the table attached to this Decision, to take the appropriate measures for the design of appropriate projects for SI of real-time online alarm systems.

For more detailed information, please click Decision No. 39 of ALBCOLD, date 25.08.2023 here

•  The 5-year state control of the HPP Banje dam was carried out by a working group composed of representatives of ALBCOLD, MIE, AKBN, and KTPD. Based on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the working group presented in a technical report, as well as based on the data of the user of the HPP Banje dam given in the annex of this report, it results that the body of the HPP Banje dam is in a condition stable and its main elements are in operation and monitored in accordance with the requirements of the legislation in force. After the discussions of all the members present as well as having in mind the requirements of the legislation in force, ALBCOLD decided to approve the conclusions and recommendations of the working group attached to this Decision regarding the 5-year state control of the dam and reservoir of HPP Banje. At the same time, it was agreed that the user of this dam (Devolli HP) should be required to take appropriate measures to complete the recommendations given by the working group regarding the installation of alarm systems in the dam and their transmission networks in the urban areas below. them as well as to send information about the stability of the PV floating system installed before the water intake operation, the technical standards for the operation and monitoring of the system as well and the impacts of this system on the operation and operation of the water intake system and security of the main elements of the dam and reservoir.

For more detailed information, please click Decision No. 40 of ALBCOLD, date 25.08.2023 here