The hydropower plant of Gjanc is located 14 km southeast of Korca district, it was built during the 1988-1991 period and was put in operation in 1991 as state property administered by Albanian Power Corporation (KESH). It was given in concession ROT (Rehabilitate, Operate and Transfer) form for a period of 30 years to Spahiu-Gjanc Ltd based on the Council of Minister’s decision VKM nr. 625, dated 11.09.2003.
The concessionaire Spahiu-Gjanc Ltd in the period 2003-2007 invested in the full technical rehabilitation of the hydropower plant and in the 2011 – 2013 period in the total rehabilitation and expansion of the 7km long water intake channel.
The technical rehabilitation was implemented by contracting Kossler Gmbh part of Voith Siemens for the mechanical side and Schubert Gmbh for the electrical side. Both Austrian reputable companies in the hydro generation sector. The rehabilitated Gjanc HPP has since 2007 operated with new control and monitoring system using PLC/SCADA and with a refurbished turbine generator set in Austria. Civil works for the rehabilitation of powerhouses, worksite, offices, penstock, and part of the intake channel were at the time conducted by SGA.
In the period July 2011 to October 2013 SGA engaged in the rehabilitation and expansion of the 7km water feeding channel to Gjanc 18 million m3 reservoir which supplies Gjanc HPP and the irrigation system of Korca lowland.
So, today water flow in the intake channel has increased from 2.5m3/s to inflow levels up to 6m3/s, this, in turn, has implied an increase to 50% of energy production from Gjanc HPP. This project has also increased the irrigation capacity of Korca lowland which in recent years has experienced continuous exploitation and growth from farmers in the region.
Spahiu-Gjanc ltd since 2012 is the co-manager together with the Irrigation Board of Korca and the sole maintainer of the reservoir of Gjanc.
Main operational parameters of Gjanc HPP
Installed active power of turbine 3000kW.
Installed capacity of generator 3700 kVA.
Automatic PLC/SCADA-based control for operation, control, and protection.
Delta height Hnet = 127m.
Computation flow at 2.8m3/s.
The water supply of the power plant is achieved from the Gjanc reservoir with a capacity of 18 million m3, fed from branches of the Osum river.
Average multiyear annual production at 12.500 MWh.
The adjacent substation has two transformers with a capacity of 4000kVA at a voltage level of 35/6kV and a 3200kVA transformer at 35/10kV.
Transmission line at 35kV of 15km length connects the power plant with the Zemblak 400kV substation of the Albania-Greece interconnection TM line.
The company has all the necessary permits to perform its energy production activity and water usage permits for the Gjanc reservoir from relevant Ministries and Authorities. Spahiu-Gjanc ltd has a 15-year long contract till 2026 with the Albanian Power Corporation for the sale of its energy production.
