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Albanian-French Energy Partnership : KESH and AFD sign a MoU on Drin cascade management and advance energy storage planning

published on 09 April 2025
Energy
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Mou Albanie
© KESH Fatjon SINO / Luan VELIA SHKODRA
In the framework of France Minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad’s visit to Tirana, Albania and France have solidified their action-oriented partnership in the energy sector, with the first AFD support to KESH, the Albanian public electricity generation utility, in line with Albania’s priorities under its Green Agenda and EU accession roadmap.

Through this EUR 800,000 support, AFD will mobilize French technical expertise in hydropower infrastructure modernization and digitalization and will initiate peer-to-peer exchanges between KESH and Electricité de France (EDF), its French counterpart.

By fostering closer ties between KESH and French experts in hydropower, the MoU sets the stage for cutting-edge cooperation in energy storage and digital modeling. The purpose of this technical assistance is to support the improvement and digitalization of KESH’s discharge management. This will optimize electricity generation and mitigate flooding risks in the lower part of the Drin cascade, and develop storage capacity through the assessment and identification of the most suitable energy storage technologies for integration within the existing infrastructure.

This partnership aims to enhance operational efficiency, renewable integration, climate resilience, and long-term sustainability of Albania’s hydropower resources and assets.

The initiative will contribute to the decarbonization of the energy sector while strengthening Albania’s role as a regional energy hub.

Through this cooperation, France reaffirms its support to Albania’s EU integration and energy transition goals through strategic investments’ development.

The MoU also aligns with AFD’s mandate to support green energy and technological innovation in the Western Balkans, in line with Albania’s EU perspective. Mr. Erald Elezi, Administrator of KESH sh.a, and Mr. Arnaud Dauphin, Director of AFD’s Western Balkans Regional Office, affirmed this commitment in the presence of the France’s Minister for Europe, Mr. Benjamin Haddad, the French Ambassador to Albania, Ms. Catherine Suard, and Albania’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Mr. Ceno Klosi.

During the signing ceremony, Mr. Haddad underlined that this MoU “demonstrates both that Albania is a priority for France but also the willingness of the French government to mobilize all its operators and financing tools to help the country in its European convergence and EU integration process”.

Mr. Klosi also noted that “over the past five years, the support of France in the energy sector has been steadily growing and is now already encompassing both structural reforms and flagship projects with the different power utilities”.

AFD, Tirana Office 
Dëshmoret e Kombit Boulevard 
Twin Towers, Tower 2
Press contact: afdbalkans@afd.fr
Tel: +355 68 20 31 731