Fier incinerator case
Status: Returned for retrial at first instance (Dec 2024); later procedural developments not confirmed
Summary
The Fier waste incinerator concession was awarded to Integrated Technology Waste Treatment Fier under a BOT contract with the Ministry of Environment (Wikipedia summary gives Oct 2016; a date inside the same summary gives 2015). Construction at Verri, Mbrostar, faced protests and court challenges; the construction permit was approved Oct 2017.
SPAK prosecuted 21 individuals and 12 legal entities in 2022 (Wikipedia summary, citing Basel Institute WP 49). SPAK requested a total of 81 years for 15 defendants and a summary trial was applied (ABC News, Sept 2023). The first-instance verdict was reported in late September 2023. The Special Court of Appeal ordered a retrial in December 2024 (A2, Top Channel).
Key facts
- SPAK prosecuted 21 individuals and 12 legal entities in 2022 (Wikipedia summary).
- SPAK requested 10 years for Lefter Koka and 7 years for Alqi Bllako (ABC News, 2023).
- Special Court of Appeal returned the case for retrial at first instance (A2, 19 Dec 2024).
- Koka effective sentence reported as 6 years 8 months after shortened trial (Wikipedia summary, Telegrafi search summary).
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 (1)
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 verdict reported (late Sept 2023). Court of Appeal annulled and returned case for retrial (Dec 2024, A2 and Top Channel).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationCorruption and money laundering in the Fier concession (SPAK).
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationAbuse of power, active and passive corruption, money laundering, breach of duty, passive bribery and VAT fraud (SPAK charges, Wikipedia summary).
- AllegationSPAK requested 10 years for Koka and 7 years for Alqi Bllako (ABC News, 2023).
Open questions (5)
- Lefter Koka Fier sentence: 10 years (prosecution request and first-instance per Telegrafi/Wikipedia lead), 9.8 years (search summary), 6 years 8 months effective after shortened trial (Wikipedia body, Telegrafi). Sources disagree on the headline figure.
- Alqi Bllako Fier sentence: 2 years 8 months (Top Channel, Wikipedia summary) versus 4 years (search summary attributing it to Fier; A2 headline ties 4 years to Tirana). Not resolved.
- Klodian Zoto Fier sentence: 12 years (Wikipedia body, ABC News prosecution request, A2) reduced to 8 years (A2 search summary) versus 6.8 years (Top Channel, combined verdict). Not resolved.
- Stela Gugallja and Mirel Mertiri Fier sentences: not confirmed beyond Top Channel.
- Whether the Dec 2025 measure revocation reported in a search summary (GJKKO) applies to Fier retrial status: not verified.
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Alqi Bllako: stated he is not a high-ranking official and asked for clarification on charges (Top Channel headline, text not opened).
Figures
Money trail →Fier incinerator cost to state per year (headline figure)
€7,500,000
Incomplete figurepaymentSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Headline figure (ACQJ): non-functional Fier incinerator 'swallows' 7.5 million euro every year. Article body not opened. INCOMPLETE and unverified as to method; other reporting in searches gives about 22 million euro paid 2016-2020 (search summary, no URL read).
Date: undated · Payer: Government of Albania (Ministry of Environment / state budget) · Payee: Integrated Technology Waste Treatment Fier sh.p.k
Fier BOT concession value (including VAT, per Wikipedia summary)
€35,000,000
Incomplete figureconcessionSource label: Under investigationStated definition: incomplete. Definition: BOT concession value to the Ministry as stated in the Wikipedia summary (about 35 million euro including VAT). The research brief's 28 million euro figure was not verified in any source opened.
Date: Oct 2016 · Payer: Ministry of Environment · Payee: Integrated Technology Waste Treatment Fier
- Albanian incinerators scandal (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · wiki · EN
Fier construction contract with Energy Recuperator (per Wikipedia summary)
€15,000,000
contractSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Definition: construction contract value between Integrated Technology Waste Treatment Fier and Energy Recuperator Spa, signed 10 Nov (year not stated in summary).
Date: not found · Payer: Integrated Technology Waste Treatment Fier · Payee: Energy Recuperator Spa
- Albanian incinerators scandal (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · wiki · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
Klodian Zoto and Stela Gugallja declared internationally wanted
SPAK declared Zoto and Gugallja internationally wanted (Exit News, article dated 26 Jan 2022).
Court
Fier first-instance verdict
Special Court first-instance verdict in the Fier case (late Sept 2023 per ABC News preview timestamp 25 Sept 2023). Sentence figures disputed across sources; see case openQuestions.
Court
Special Court of Appeal returns Fier case for retrial
Special Court of Appeal annulled the Fier first-instance ruling and returned the case for retrial before a different first-instance panel (A2, 19 Dec 2024).
Court
GJKKO revokes Lefter Koka's arrest-in-prison measure in the Fier incinerator case; retrial ordered
SPAK appeals to the Supreme Court; authorities report his whereabouts unknown.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 8 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 7 sources
- Publisher
- ABC News Albania
- Date
- 25 Sep 2023
- Publisher
- A2 CNN Albania
- Date
- 19 Dec 2024
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- Dec 2024
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- 5 Oct 2023
- Publisher
- Wikipedia
- Date
- not recorded
- Publisher
- Exit News
- Date
- 26 Jan 2022
- Publisher
- Albanian Daily News
- Date
- 2026
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 1 source
- Publisher
- ACQJ
- Date
- undated