Brief History of ALBCOLD And Dams in Albania
BRIEF HISTORY OF ALBCOLD AND DAMS IN ALBANIA
The history of the establishment of KKDM is a consequence of the modern development of the dam construction sector that started in 1952 in our country to produce electricity from river water as well as for the construction of dams for irrigation purposes.
After a history of more than 12 years of starting the construction of dams in Albania and creating a rich experience of Albanian engineers in the design and construction of dams, it became necessary to set up a central institution that would lead the process, support technical progress in conception, construction and development and organize the exchange of data and experience with analogous international organizations in Europe and the world.
As it is known, in 1952, the construction of the first dam in Albania began, which was the Ulza dam over the Mat River. This 64 m high concrete dam, designed by the “Hydroenergoproject” Institute of Leningrad, began to be built by Albanian builders in cooperation with and direction of Soviet specialists. In 1957, after 5 years of hard, selfless and selfless work, it was possible to complete and make possible the creation of the Ulza reservoir and the commissioning of HPP Ulez. This work, with the contribution given by Albanian Engineers and Employees in cooperation with Soviet specialists, became a great school for the construction of large dams in the future through innovative realizations during the convergence process that made it possible to realize this first work in this field on time.
The construction of this dam was followed by the construction of another reinforced concrete dam with a height of 48 m in Shkopet, for which work began in 1958 at a distance of about 15 km below the first dam where Albanian specialists, learning from the first experience and encountering numerous difficulties that were also increased by the beginning of the cooling of state relations with BS, gradually took all the direction of the implementation of the works, successfully realizing its construction and of HPP Shkopet in 1963, a time when Soviet aid had been interrupted for three years. At this time, the idea of setting up technical design institutions had also begun; they gradually began to conceive technical solutions and implementation projects
During these 12 years, the construction of large dams with local material and clay that were used for irrigation of agricultural lands began, as well as the construction of the dam of the artificial lake of Tirana (1957-1958), the water of which served as technological water for the Textile Combine in Tirana. During the period 1961–1963, more than 14 large earth and clay dams were built, with a height of up to 35 m, which were used for the irrigation of soils in the area of Tirana, Fier, Korça, Durrës, and Lushnja. One of the most special dams built at this time is the Murriz Thane Dam, started in 1960 and completed in 1962, which had a height of 17 m and a length of 3570 ml and created a water reservoir with a volume of 66 million m3 of water, making it possible to irrigate more than 32,000 ha of agricultural land in Lushnja and Fier.
The beginning of the 1960s coincided with a rapid development of this sector through not only the construction of large dams but also the establishment of technical design institutes that started with technical design bureaus and developed with the establishment of the HPP Technical Institute (ISP No. 3) as well as ISPVU with a focus on the construction of large irrigation dams. At this time, the University of Tirana was established, and the nucleus of engineers of this sector was created, who began to take responsibility for the construction of these gigantic and useful facilities for the country’s economy.
The time had come to think about the major works for the production of electricity from the water flow of the Drin River, the largest river in the country, and with an energy potential of up to 7 billion KWH. These works required professionalism, collaboration, specialized teams, special experiences, and special experiences. It required courage and the beginning of a new era in the field of Albanian engineering, modern, scientifically based, and with unrepeatable dedication.
At the beginning of 1964, it was proposed to the Council of Ministers the membership of Albania in the International Commission of Large Dams (ICOLD) which had been established as a technical organization in this field since 1928 as well as the establishment of the National Committee of Large Dams that would exercise state control in the dam sector and represent Albania in ICOLD
This Committee would not only direct and organize this difficult and complex process in this field, but would also create opportunities for cooperation with the best professionals in this field.
With the approval of this Proposal by the Albanian Government, an Albanian delegation headed by Prof. Petrit Radovicka participated in the 8th ICOLD Congress that took place in May 1964 in Edinburgh, Scotland. During the proceedings of this Congress, Albania was admitted as a full member of ICOLD. This membership continues today through the active participation of Albanian representatives of KKDM
After admission to ICOLD in October 1964, the National Committee of Large Dams (NCDM) was established, headed by Prof. Petrit Radovicka, who successfully led it until 1991.
After 1991, until today, several reorganizations and restructurings of the CCDM have been carried out through the decisions of the Council of Ministers
In 2000, the Albanian Parliament approved Law No. 8681, dated 02.11.2000, “On the Design, Construction, Use and Maintenance of Dams and Dams” which is still in force today.
This law also defines the role of the CCDM as a body of the Council of Ministers that exercises state control over the safety of Dams as works of special importance and represents the Albanian state in the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)
This law also defines the main Tasks of the CCDM, which are:
- Supporting technical progress in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of dams/dams in the interest of the economic and social development of the country.
- Organizing the exchange of data and experience between the Albanian Committee and the Committees of other countries, between specialists and organizations within and with their counterparts abroad.
- In cooperation with specialized institutions and organizations, it organizes and directs the preparation of all legal and technical documentation related to dams and dams.
- Approves Project Ideas and Project Implementations of new dams, as well as repair and improvement projects of dams/dams that are in use.
- Fulfilment of technical and financial obligations to ICOLD
- Through publications, it carries out technical propaganda, sensitizing state bodies and the general public about the multiple values of dams/dams but also the very serious consequences on economic values and people in the event of their demolition.
- Performs physical and documentary control, verifying dams/dams during construction and use.
