“Comment is free, but facts are sacred.” — C. P. Scott, 1921.
Protecting the Vjosa: court annuls the Shushica hydropower contract
Erblin Vukaj · Originally published: 11 December 2024
The ruling on the Shushica hydropower plants
The legal battle to protect the Shushica River, a tributary of the Vjosa, has ended successfully in court, establishing an important precedent for environmental protection in Albania.
The first-instance Administrative Court today announced its decision to annul the contract envisaging construction of 4 hydropower plants along the river, ruling in favour of residents and environmental organisations.
“All the residents of the Shushica valley and Vjosa National Park have triumphed with this decision. Justice in protecting our river from hydropower plants was delayed, but fortunately it came in our favour,” said Sotir Zahoaliaj, a resident of Brataj village, around 190 kilometres south of Tirana.
The court recognised the standing of the 28 residents who sued the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE) and the National Environment Agency (AKM) over the 35-year concession granted to Shushica Hydropower in 2017 to use the river’s waters. It considered the residents entitled to bring the case on the basis not only of “property interests,” but also “spiritual and cultural” interests.
This recognition of standing also extended to EcoAlbania and Impetus, organisations that, together with the Res Publica centre, have contributed substantially to environmental protection.
Reactions and the ruling’s significance
Besjana Guri, a representative of EcoAlbania, said the decision should give the authorities pause for reflection.
“We hope this decision will not be appealed, but accepted as a signal to protect our natural heritage,” Guri said.
“After almost three years, this is an important victory not only for protecting the Shushica, but also for Albanian jurisprudence,” said lawyer Irena Dule of the Res Publica centre.
According to her, the ruling establishes a new legal practice allowing members of the public to challenge administrative contracts in court without being parties to them. The ruling also strengthens the protected status of the wild Vjosa River, which has been declared a National Park.
The Shushica, also known as the Vlora River, flows from Mali i Thatë and Mali i Gjoshnikoshit, east of Kuç village in Vlora. The river brings together at least three cold streams, Smokthina, Vajza and Vllahina, and runs around 82 kilometres from south to north before joining the Vjosa as one of its main tributaries.