Himara Inaugurates the New Wastewater Treatment Plant

A new wastewater treatment plant has been officially inaugurated in the southern coastal city of Himara, marking an important milestone for environmental protection and sustainable development in the region. This significant investment will ensure that no untreated wastewater is discharged into the pristine waters of the Ionian Sea along the Himara coastline, helping safeguard the local ecosystem and provide safer conditions for the community and tourism.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by local and international representatives, including the General Director of the National Water Supply and Sewerage Agency of Albania (AKUK), Flaures Shoshi, the Director of Vlora Regional Water Supply and Sewerage Company, Ermal Murati, the Country Director for Albania at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Marion Fleuth-Leferink, the Head of German Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Tirana, Iven Schad, the Director of the KfW Office in Albania, Mara Drochner, along with other high-level representatives from KfW.

The plant has been built within the framework of the Rural Water Supply Program IV and is financed by the German Government through KfW Development Bank with an investment of €42 million, complemented by a €4.2 million grant from the European Union through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), also administered by KfW. The project is being implemented locally by the Albanian Development Fund (ADF). This investment reflects a strong commitment by international partners and Albanian authorities to protect the country’s natural environment and improve quality of life for its coastal communities.

In his remarks, the General Director of AKUK, Flaures Shoshi, stated that with the commissioning of this plant, the treatment process now guarantees a 96% purification level, ensuring that the treated effluent discharged into the sea is clean and can even be reused for irrigation. He further emphasized that additional initiatives are underway, as the Albanian Government, through the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, has begun designing new projects for wastewater treatment plants in Qeparo, Jala, and Borsh. Meanwhile, the Director of Vlora Regional Water Supply and Sewerage Company, Ermal Murati, described this as a major investment for the Municipality of Himara, which will have direct benefits for tourism and the local economy. He noted that the next challenge is staff training for plant operations, while the project will soon continue with the wastewater treatment plant in Orikum.

This new facility ensures that no untreated wastewater will ever again be discharged into the sea, protecting the clean waters of the Ionian and contributing to cleaner beaches, a healthier environment, and sustainable tourism for the local community and the many visitors who choose Himara as their destination.