Ministry of Energy, National Environment Agency and others, lawsuit (re hydropower projects, Albania)
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Snapshot: On 16 May 2017, a group of local residents and the NGO Toka (Land) filed a lawsuit at the First Administrative Court of Tirana, Albania, against four different governmental institutions, including the Ministry of Energy, National Environment Agency, the Ministry of the Environment, the National Council of the Territory, and the Drin-Buna Watershed Council. They asked to halt the work on two hydropower plants on the Valbona River, operated by Gener 2 and Dragobia Energy. They argued that the projects could damage the environment, have negative impact on their livelihoods, and the permits were not granted in accordance to the laws. On 3 November 2017, the Court dismissed the lawsuit, citing that the construction permits were granted according to the laws. The plaintiffs appealed against this decision. In June 2021, the Supreme Court suspended the concession contract between the government and the two companies, pending a final decision. In July 2021, the High Court suspended the construction of the two hydropower plants, but the construction work continued. On 27 October 2021, the General Directorate of Bailiffs ordered the parties to stop working on the construction until a final decision by the Supreme Court is made. The case is ongoing.