Skavica hydropower dam on the Black Drin: Bechtel contract, Bern Convention complaint and NGO concerns
Status: Under Bern Convention review; construction start not confirmed.
Summary
The Skavica hydropower project is a planned large dam on the Black Drin in north-eastern Albania, with a capacity reported as 210 MW in KESH and Bechtel coverage. Bechtel was named as contractor or partner (contract signing reported in excerpts). A 2020 report put the cost at up to about 510 million EUR. The Albanian government filed a report in January 2026 in response to a Council of Europe Bern Convention complaint, stating that no transboundary impact is expected. The Bern Convention Standing Committee was reported to meet in December 2026. NGOs (Bankwatch) say the project could flood villages and displace people, and could affect the critically endangered Balkan lynx. Local workers reported geological risk changes. No procurement or corruption allegation was found.
Key facts
- Capacity reported as 210 MW (KESH and Bechtel coverage, excerpts).
- Cost up to about 510 million EUR (2020 report, according to a secondary report).
- Government report to the Council of Europe dated January 2026 (rm.coe.int document seen in secondary reports; page itself could not be accessed (HTTP 403)).
- Bern Convention Standing Committee scheduled for December 2026 (per the government report excerpt).
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.
- The project exists as a KESH project with a Bechtel contract reported in trade press (excerpts).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationEnvironmental harm and flooding risks, per NGO and complaint material.
Allegations and who made them (1)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationNGO and complainant allegations of habitat destruction and displacement (Bankwatch and Council of Europe complaint; not reviewed in full).
Open questions (3)
- The Bechtel contract value, signing date and award procedure (procurement or direct negotiation).
- Whether the 510 million EUR estimate was updated.
- The Bern Convention decision in December 2026.
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Government report (January 2026) states the project will not have transboundary impacts (secondary report citing rm.coe.int document).
Figures
Money trail →Skavica HPP: cost up to about 510 million EUR (2020 report)
€510,000,000
Stated definition: Upper estimate from a 2020 report (excerpt); not updated
Date: 2020 · Payer: KESH / state · Payee: Bechtel (partner)
- Skavica project excerpts (opens in a new tab)CE Energy News · 2024 · journalism · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →International
Government report to Council of Europe on Skavica HPP (Bern Convention)
Government states no transboundary impacts; Standing Committee scheduled December 2026 (per excerpt).
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 3 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 3 sources
- Publisher
- Council of Europe
- Date
- Jan 2026
- Publisher
- CE Energy News
- Date
- 2024
- Publisher
- Bankwatch
- Date
- 2024