Photovoltaics are the new front for the seizure of public lands, but not only that. After the failure of the attempt to take 832 hectares in Kanina, Vlora, the next attack is in Saranda.
The Mayor of Saranda, Oltion Çaçi, has sent for approval to the Municipal Council a draft decision for the lease, by competition, of an area of 60 hectares in Heremec, part of the property with no. 8 and no. 15, cadastral zone 2806, for the development of energy production activity from renewable sources, through photovoltaic panels.
Sarande Municipal Council Agenda for July 30
The approval of the draft decision has been included in the agenda of the meeting that the Saranda Municipal Council will hold on Wednesday, July 30. This is the third time that the Municipality of Saranda has attempted to privatize the land in Heremec, which constitutes one of the most persistent attempts at plunder by any public entity.
The kidnapping saga
In July 2023, the Municipality of Saranda presented to the Municipal Council a draft decision “On the approval of the management plan for the “Heremec” pasture economy with an area of 1233.21 ha for the period 2023-2033”. This was a diabolical move, which had clear goals.
Not knowing the ultimate goals of this draft decision, the Councilors approved it with the idea that the Municipality sought to manage this asset better, by extending the management period from every 1 year to every 10 years.
But in October 2023, the Municipality presents to the Council a draft decision for "Approval in principle of the lease, by competition, of an area of 175 ha, part of the property with no. 8 and no. 15, cadastral zone 2806, for the development of energy production activity from renewable sources, through photovoltaic panels".
As soon as this draft decision was made public, the residents of Nivica, through their representatives, informed the councilors about their claims, highlighting the Municipality's "game" that had started in July. In fact, the Municipality had made another move to precede this.
On October 10, 10 days before making the draft decision public, it had obtained a certificate of ownership and a property card from the Saranda Municipal Court for property 8, cadastral zone 2806, owned by the Municipality of Saranda. Although it obtained the certificate, the Municipality could not avoid the fact that the property card contained the decision to impose a conservative seizure on this property.
Faced with citizen pressure and the Councilors' inaction, the Municipality cancels the passage of the draft decision to the meeting of October 27, 2023. But the pressure from above was greater than the citizen pressure, so the Municipality decides to hold two public hearings in February 2024 and pass the draft decision that same month for approval by the Municipal Council.
Strangely, this time the draft decision did not go for an area of 175 ha but for 60 ha. But the attempt of February last year also failed after strong opposition from the residents of Nivica. However, Oltion Çaçi is determined to grab the property by reinstating the draft decision again. This time the third time is the truth.
The company behind the project
Although the Municipality of Saranda initially kept the company behind the project secret, its name was later revealed. It is a company called Park Sol Energy, which is owned by two shareholders.
They are Agim Xhindoli and Paqsor Buzi. The former, a former democrat who crossed the rainbow and sat on Edi Rama's lap.
Agim Xhindoli on Edi Rama's podcast
While the second is one of the biggest budget and public tender sharks through his company, GPG.
Peaceful Buzi
In the last 5 years, this company has received more than 150 million euros in payments from the state treasury for contracts from the Development Fund, the Albanian Regional Agency for Rural Development and several municipalities in the country.
