The fear of the crisis "kept" Fierza above the historical average in the first 6 months of the year

2023-08-29 11:55:00, Aktualitet CNA

The fear of the crisis "kept" Fierza above the historical average in

The lake of the Fierza hydropower plant, the most important in the Drin cascade, remained in the first part of this year closer to the historical maximum than the average.

The data published by the Energy Regulatory Authority according to the reports made by the public companies of the sector show that from January to June Fierza was significantly above the historical average starting in the first month at the level of 293.16 meters while the historical average for this month is 275.5 meters.

In February, the level dropped to 286.4 meters, but again above the historical average, which for February is 276.9 meters. In March 2023 Fierza increased to 291.47 while the historical average is 279.82 meters.

In the months of April, May and June, the figures show that Fierza maintains maximum quotas above 295-296 meters, even in this case above the historical average, which in June results in 289.53 meters.

In addition to the good water situation that changed from November last year and that continued in the first part of this year, it seems that the crisis is what has forced the energy reserve to be kept at higher levels than the historical average.

Faced with previously unprecedented prices, Albania, like many other countries, was forced to spend over 500 million euros on energy purchases in 2022. The combination of the favorable water situation and the more careful management of the water reserve seems to have come as a result of prevention of the same scenario of summer 2022 to summer 2023.

At least until now, the Albanian Electricity Corporation has managed to sell more electricity than buy it. The purchase procedures were opened in certain weeks to try to cope with the demand for consumption in the peak summer season.

The Fierza level table has changed completely this year if we consider that since 2021 when the energy crisis started, the lake was below the historical average, staying like this for at least 16 months and this changed only in November and December 2022.

The Cascade of Drini operates on the basis of a regulation, and with reference to the latter, as far as the level of Fierza is concerned, it provides that in the period April 1 - October 1, Fierza will be kept at the quota of 295 absolute, 296 relative. For the period October 1 - March 1, the level is at the quota of 289 absolute meters and 290 relative meters.

The fear of the crisis "kept" Fierza above the historical average in