Banja Dam fills

ongoing

On Friday April 15th 2016, Albania’s 80 metre tall Banja Dam, part of the Devoll Hydropower Project started filling the 16km reservoir. The National Committee of Large Dam in Albania gave the go ahead to close the bottom outlet and start the slow impounding phase, filling the reservoir with 178 million square metres of water. When the water reaches its operational level the vertical Francis power generating units will be commissioned during trials in August before becoming fully operational producing 66 megawatts of electricity. Annual energy production is estimated to be 255 gigawatts. The project has seen major works including the Dam itself, the spillway, intakes, waterways, emergency outlets, bottom outlets, new roads, bridges and the construction of fifteen new houses for families relocated from the area.