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In a letter to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, the organizations say that "the development of hydropower plants in Vjosa continues to be supported by the Albanian Government despite all scientific findings that confirm the value of preserving the unique ecosystem of the Vjosa River". “We are concerned,” the letter states, “particularly from the process of implementing the Kalivac Hydropower Project: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is planned to be implemented in three months - an unrealistic deadline for implementing an EIA in-depth for a project of this size.”
Civil society organizations claim that “The Albanian government supports the implementation of the Kalivac hydropower plant, despite the fact that international institutions, including the European Commission and the European Parliament, have repeatedly criticized these developments.
The letter addressed to Prime Minister Rama states that “neither the recommendations of the Berne Convention to suspend the Kalivac HPP until the necessary strategic planning and additional assessments have been carried out by the Albanian government. Including the Kalivac hydropower plant, we have data on 45 HPPs planned in the Albanian part of the Vjosa watershed: 8 in the main flow and 37 in its tributaries claimed by environmental organizations.
According to the organizations, the Vjosa River is one of the last major wild rivers in Europe, which flows uninterrupted in the length of 200 km in the Albanian territory. Its still intact condition makes it an important ecosystem for many endangered species in Europe. As such, Vjosa is a natural heritage of European importance and has high potential for sustainable alternative development such as ecotourism.
“We, national and international organizations, urge you, Mr. Prime Minister Edi Rama, to immediately stop all hydropower projects in the Vjosa catchment, until the implementation of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Integrated Basin Management Plan, which take into account the social aspects and in particular the potential for development of ecotourism,” reads the end of the letter that environmental organizations from Albania and many countries around the world addressed to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.