This series provides an overview of successful public-private partnerships in various infrastructure sectors, where IFC was the lead advisor. In March 2009 IFC concluded its second infrastructure transaction in Albania: the privatization of Kesh, the national electricity company. The Czech Republic’s Cez Group was selected as the winning bidder for the acquisition of 76 percent of the shares of the electricity distribution business for an equivalent of US$125 million.

The Albanian government had sought IFC’s assistance to help strengthen the legislation and institutional framework for public-private partnerships and to implement two transactions in key infrastructure sectors. Three years later, a new concession law is in place, the government’s Concession Unit has been in operation since 2007, and the first hydroelectric power plant concession was awarded in October 2008.
The Private Enterprise Partnership for Southeast Europe Infrastructure and DevCo supported the advisory work. The partnership was established in cooperation with and with financing from the governments of Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States. DevCo is a multidonor program affiliated with the Private Infrastructure Development Group and is supported by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International Development Agency, and the Austrian Development Agency.