Elbasan incinerator case
Status: First-instance verdict 5 Oct 2023; later appellate and procedural status not confirmed
Summary
The Elbasan waste incinerator was concessioned in Dec 2014 to Albtek Energy under a BOT contract. Construction started March 2015 and the plant launched in April 2017. SPAK issued seizure and arrest warrants in Dec 2021. The Special Court's first-instance verdict of 5 Oct 2023 (reported by Top Channel) convicted Lefter Koka with sentence of 5 years 8 months and acquitted Alqi Bllako. Other defendants reported as convicted include Mirel Mertiri and Stela Gugallja.
The Elbasan plant was reported out of operation after June 2022 and again from December 2023 (Wikipedia summary, citing Politiko, Nov 2024). Procedural issues and retrial status for the Elbasan file after 2023 were not confirmed in sources read; search summaries mention a 2024 appeal and a case postponement but these were not opened.
Key facts
- BOT concession signed Dec 2014 with Albtek Energy (Wikipedia summary).
- Plant launched 18 April 2017 with PM Rama present (Wikipedia summary).
- SPAK seizure and arrest warrants Dec 2021 (Wikipedia summary; one source gives 15 Dec 2021).
- First-instance verdict 5 Oct 2023 (Top Channel publication date 05/10/2023).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (2)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- First-instance Special Court verdict convicted Lefter Koka with 5 years 8 months and acquitted Alqi Bllako (Top Channel, 5 Oct 2023).
- Elbasan plant reported out of operation from June 2022 and Dec 2023 (Wikipedia summary, press citations not opened).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationCorruption in the award and operation of the Elbasan concession (SPAK allegations, first-instance verdict reported).
Allegations and who made them (3)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationSPAK: Lefter Koka passive bribery and money laundering (Wikipedia summary, citing CNA).
- AllegationSPAK: Mirel Mertiri de facto owner of Albtek Energy (Wikipedia summary).
- AllegationSPAK: Klodian Zoto owner of Integrated Technology Service, which did the Elbasan works (Wikipedia summary).
Open questions (4)
- Koka sentence in Elbasan: 5y8m (Top Channel, 5 Oct 2023) versus 6y8m attributed to Koka in some Elbasan-related reports (search summary); the 6y8m figure is attributed to the Fier case by Top Channel.
- Mertiri and Zoto Elbasan sentence: Top Channel gives 6.8 years in a combined verdict; the search summary attributes 6y8m to Elbasan as well as Fier. Not resolved.
- Appeal status of the Elbasan verdict (search summary says a 2024 appeal changed the 5 Oct 2023 decision; not verified in an opened article).
- Elbasan concession value: about 28 million euro per the research brief; not verified in any source opened.
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Alqi Bllako: told court he had nothing to do with the incinerators (ABC News headline, text not opened).
- Telegrafi headline: Ahmetaj accuses PM Rama of influencing prosecutors and judges (headline only).
Figures
Money trail →Government payments for Elbasan and Fier incinerators (per TI CEPI summary of Wikipedia/BIRN)
€70,200,000
Incomplete figurepaymentSource label: Under investigationStated definition: incomplete. Definition: amount the government paid for the Elbasan and Fier incinerators including VAT at 106 lek/euro, as summarised on the TI CEPI page. Not a Tirana figure. Both cases combined.
Date: Aug 2023 · Payer: Government of Albania · Payee: Concession companies
- Albania: Arben Ahmetaj, deputy PM involved in incinerators concession scandal (opens in a new tab)Transparency International CEPI · Aug 2023 · ngo · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →Government
Elbasan BOT concession signed with Albtek Energy
Albtek Energy, represented by Stela Gugallja, signed a BOT concession for the Elbasan incinerator (Wikipedia summary).
SPAK
SPAK seizure and arrest warrants for Elbasan incinerator
SPAK issued seizure warrant for the facility and arrest warrants for Albtek owners and managers (Wikipedia summary; one cited source gives 15 Dec 2021).
SPAK
Klodian Zoto and Stela Gugallja declared internationally wanted
SPAK declared Zoto and Gugallja internationally wanted (Exit News, article dated 26 Jan 2022).
Court
Elbasan first-instance verdict
Special Court verdict reported by Top Channel on 5 Oct 2023: Koka 5 years 8 months and 5 years disqualification; Bllako acquitted; Zoto and Mertiri 6.8 years, Gugallja 4.8 years (combined article, case attribution not fully explicit).
Connections
attended 2014 emergency committee; plant launch 2017 with Rama present
Evidence: Wikipedia summary: 5 Feb 2014 inter-ministerial committee with Rama present declared emergency; launch 18 April 2017 with Rama present.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 5 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 4 sources
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- 5 Oct 2023
- Publisher
- Wikipedia
- Date
- not recorded
- Publisher
- Exit News
- Date
- 26 Jan 2022
- Publisher
- Exit News
- Date
- not recorded
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 1 source
- Publisher
- Transparency International CEPI
- Date
- Aug 2023