56 million euros spent, no functional plant: Tirana "floats" in sewage

The end of May in Tirana began with sudden heat. The thermometer exceeded 30 degrees, while along the Lanë River the strong wind returned, like the bell of a protracted environmental crisis.

The only beautiful thing that remains is the greenery along the coast, which this year has exploded due to the heavy rains that accompanied the winter.

"The Lana River runs through the middle of the capital, but it is actually a collector of sewage or used water for the entire city. This is unfortunate, because it has been functioning like this for a long time," hydrobiologist Olsi Nika tells Faktoje, describing the reality that is visible today to anyone walking near the river.

"It is obvious that the main pollutant is wastewater. Not only that which comes out of toilets, that is, sewage, but also the water used by any unit or economic activity, which often also contains heavy metal pollutants," explains Nika.

"It is obvious that the main pollutant is wastewater. Not only that which comes out of toilets, that is, sewage, but also the water used by any unit or economic activity, which often also contains heavy metal pollutants," explains Nika.

Along the stream, numerous pipes discharge used water and unpleasant odors are present everywhere.

"They are the aromas of geosmin, phosphate and nitrate residues. They are chemical substances that not only create an unpleasant odor, but also harm our health," argues the hydrobiologist.

"This is a serious problem because it concerns people's quality of life. It is a river that is easily accessible by anyone, at any time. Perhaps even by children who can be contaminated and infected quickly," adds Nika.

A river that protests

In the midst of this polluted landscape, an installation placed on the riverbank appears as a strong cry: “ Enough Is Enough .” The slogan written in English seems like the voice of the river itself, a protest against the degradation that has been done to it over the years.

In Lana, chemical pollution dominates, but there is also no shortage of plastic waste floating on the surface, solid materials carelessly discarded near the Palace of Arrows.

"Water definitely needs to be treated. Not only in Tirana, but everywhere in Albania. Today we do not have an efficient wastewater treatment plant that covers the Municipality of Tirana.

"Even the Plant alone is not enough, but the entire supporting infrastructure is needed,"  concludes hydrobiologist Olsi Nika, turning his call into an urgent appeal for solutions.

Kashari plant, project abandoned

Beyond the shores of Lana, the wastewater crisis is directly linked to the lack of a plant. Faktoje has researched the history of the Kashari Plant, a project launched with great fanfare and abandoned in the middle, which has today become a symbol of degradation.

This plant, financed with a soft loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JICA), was contracted for 81 million euros and by the time the contract was terminated in 2018, about 70% of the works had been completed, at a cost of 56 million euros.

The Ministry of Infrastructure's decision to unilaterally terminate the contract led not only to the degradation of the facility, but also to an additional bill of 13.5 million euros in damages following the decision of the International Court of Arbitration.

Today, instead of a plant that was supposed to treat over 94 thousand cubic meters of polluted water per day, Kashari is an abandoned construction site, preserved only by maintenance contracts and physical guards. Meanwhile, wastewater continues to flow untreated into Lana and the Tirana River, transferring pollution further to the Ishëm and Adriatic Sea.

Kashari plant, project abandoned

The history of the Kashari plant, abandoned by the wayside and turned into an abandoned construction site, was brought back to political attention by the Socialist MP for Tirana, Erion Braçe, during the last parliamentary session.

"Tirana is entering the days, weeks and months where the smell stinks. Let's put it like it is," declared Braçe

"Tirana is entering the days, weeks and months where the wind stinks. Let's put it like it is," declared Braçe, citing high temperatures, lack of rainfall and the decline in flows in Tirana's rivers as factors that are worsening the situation.

Braçe referred to a letter from UKT, which acknowledges that polluted waters flow into the Lana, the Tirana river, and probably into the Erzen. For him, this fact was the clearest account of the failure of the Kashar project. A plant that was started, interrupted, and unresolved, which today leaves the capital without environmental and health protection.

On the other hand, the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi, acknowledged the delays, but stated that the project is on the verge of being resolved.

"We are currently at the stage where the consultant has completed the project review and has drafted the new technical project. The competitive procedure is expected to begin very soon," said the minister.   Esmeralda Topi/ Faktoje.al