As Europe advances toward renewable energy and green initiatives, Albania, under the leadership of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the oligarch Bashkim Ulaj who is a meger point of Sali Berisha and Edi Rama, is taking a step back by approving the construction of a power plant (TEC) that will heavily pollute the environment and endanger the health of its citizens. The decision to build the TEC in Roskovec exemplifies a blatant disregard for environmental standards and a prioritization of private interests over public well-being.
Turning Albania into a “toxic smoke depot”
Unlike EU countries investing heavily in renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions, Albania is becoming a playground for environmentally harmful projects. The Roskovec TEC, 70% owned by two Greek partners and 30% by Bashkim Ulaj, will generate 90% of its energy for export to Greece, leaving behind toxic emissions for the local population.
Unbearable environmental and health costs
The location of the TEC in an agricultural and residential area defies all environmental logic. Toxic emissions from this plant are expected to severely impact the health of residents and the surrounding ecosystem. Furthermore, the area, once promised for agricultural and tourism development, compared to Tuscany in Italy, is now set to become a hub of pollution.
Prearranged deal and lack of transparency
Documents reveal that the permit for building the TEC was “prearranged” two years before the government’s official decision on December 18, 2024. The company “Fier Thermoelectric Sh.a” was established with specific predetermined criteria to benefit from this project.
Against public interests
This project not only threatens the environment and public health but also showcases how the government prioritizes private and clientelist interests. While the TEC was rejected for construction in Greece by the EU, it was approved in Albania, highlighting how the country is being exploited as a “dumping ground” for projects that developed nations refuse to accept.
The community must resist
This TEC, poised to pollute the region until 2074, poses a significant threat to the environment and the people of Roskovec. At a time when the world is transitioning to clean energy, Albania cannot lag behind by sacrificing the lives and future of its citizens for narrow private interests. Only strong community opposition can halt this dangerous project.