Skopje, November 27 (MIA) - Macedonian Power Plants (ELEM) and Chinese company China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) signed Friday a protocol on complete fulfilment of obligations within the agreement for construction of hydro-power plant "Kozjak".

The protocol signing encircles the agreement's technical issues, thus putting into full capacity the two aggregates within Macedonia's energy system, which can annually produce approximately 156GWh.

"This hydro-power plant provides 1/8 of the total hydro-production in Macedonia. Completion of hydro plant 'Sveta Petka', together with 'Kozjak' and 'Matka' encircles the entire project with three cascade plants at river Treska, annually providing 250 million KWh", said ELEM director-general Vlatko Cingovski.

He announced that the company's priority in the upcoming period would be modernization of the existing hydro-power plants, reconstruction of existing facilities, as well as construction of new ones.

Chinese ambassador to Macedonia Dong Chunfeng expressed satisfaction from the cooperation with ELEM, adding that "Kozjak" was the largest project implemented by the two countries.

CWE launched project "Kozjak" with the signing of an annex-agreement in November 2002. The final protocol, signed on Friday, completes the operations foreseen in the three-year guarantee period.

Dam "Kozjak" is one of the tallest such constructions in Europe, located with the namesake hydro-power plant at about 25km upstream of river Vardar and 16km downstream of hydro-power plant "Matka". ik/fd/13:15

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