Austrian utility builds power station in Albania

TIRANA, Albania

Austria's Verbund power utility says it has started building a euro200 million ($271 million) hydropower station in Albania.

The 57 MWh plant in Ashta, 87 miles (140 kilometers) north of the capital, Tirana, is to be completed in 2012, Verbund manager Christian Kern said Wednesday.

An Italian company is currently building a thermo-power plant in the country, too.

Albania's power production is based on hydropower stations and has limited importing capacity.

Since 1990, the former communist nation has suffered regular electricity troubles due to poor management, an outdated distribution system and lack of funds.

Following improvements to its management over the past years, Tirana has signed billions of euros (dollars) to be invested in the power system.