A construction project for a 58-story tower near the Tirana Artificial Lake dam has raised the alarm for major structural and environmental risks.
The alarm was raised by engineer Erjon Kalaja, who, through a public reaction on social media, expressed his deep concern about the permission granted by the National Council of Territory and Water, on June 25, 2025, for the construction of a tower near the dam, in the area where a public parking lot is currently located.
According to Kala, construction in this area threatens the safety of the dam, which was built with compacted soil in 1957–1962 and has historically suffered repeated landslides and damage in 1968, 1974, 1991, 1994, 1996 and 2002.
"The dam is a sensitive structure, with a history of landslides and problems in the drainage system. Building a concrete structure on it risks dangerous seepage and landslides of the dam body," writes engineer Kalaja.
He also points out that another construction permit has been issued in the same area, which foresees the relocation of the dam's discharge pipeline – an intervention that, according to him, compromises the function of the dam and significantly increases the risk of flooding in the area below it.
Why is this intervention dangerous?
The dam has a long history of landslides, including landslides that have affected its crown.
The dam structure is made of compacted soil, while the new building will be made of heavy concrete, which creates a risk of seepage.
Moving the discharge pipelines undermines the functionality of the dam.
There is a lack of consultation with the National Committee for Large Dams (NCLMD) – the technical body that must give approval for such constructions near dams.
Kalaja says that the KKDM was not consulted, and if this is true, then it is a dangerous precedent that must be stopped immediately. He recalls that a similar project was rejected 15 years ago precisely for security reasons.
Call to residents below the dam: "Take protective measures!"
The engineer makes a public appeal to residents living below the dam to be careful and take protective measures for shops and garages, as the risk of flooding is "becoming increasingly real."
"It appears that the Artificial Lake dam is being attempted to be destroyed to make way for the construction of towers in a state-owned area, near the Great Park of Tirana. This is an urban crime that should not be allowed," he writes.
The construction of towers in protected, structurally sensitive and publicly important areas such as the Artificial Lake dam raises major questions about the institutional responsibility and urban planning priorities of the city.
Full status
Danger for the dam and the Artificial Lake of Tirana!
I am deeply concerned about the construction permit granted for a 58-story tower next to the Artificial Lake dam, right on the right shoulder, where a public parking lot currently sits.
This decision (and another permit for another developer, slightly earlier but I don't know the date), approved by the National Council of Territory and Water, on June 25, 2025, poses a serious threat to the structural safety of the dam and to the lives of the residents below it.
- The Artificial Lake Dam was built mainly with volunteer labor in the years 1957 - 1962, and is a homogeneous dam with compacted soil.
- The Artificial Lake Dam has suffered major landslides in 1968 (120 m landslide, central part), 1974 (same area but 90 m), 1991 (Slide on the lower escarpment 250 m², depth 2.5 m), 1994 (new landslide 600 m², depth 4 m) and 1996 (Slide that also affected the crown of the dam 950 m², depth 3 m), plus the flood of 2002. It is said that the main collector has 2 important blockages, one near Barleti University (where another construction permit has been issued on the collector that will also move the collector "somewhere"!!) and another near the KESH offices. These prove that it is a sensitive / vulnerable structure and repeatedly endangered.
-The dam is built with compacted soil, while the new structure will be concrete. Bonding these materials is very difficult and creates the possibility of dangerous leaks.
-Seepages can lead to landslides of the dam body, as has happened several times in the past.
- Another permit a little further down provides for the relocation of the discharge pipeline, compromising the function of the dam and increasing the risk of flooding.
- To my knowledge, the National Committee of Large Dams (KKDM) has not been consulted on this project, although it is the technical body that must give approval for any intervention in dams and structures that serve the functioning and safety of the dam itself (especially constructions near the dam that require the displacement of works/pipelines, or other discharge elements, as well as constructions that directly or indirectly affect the stability of the dam). If the KKDM has indeed not made a decision, this precedent is very dangerous and must be stopped immediately.
I recall that a similar project was rejected by all of us members of the KKDM, 15 years ago by the National Dam Committee, when engineer Farudin Hoxha was the chairman, precisely because of the danger it posed to the dam and the area below it.
Call to residents below the dam: Take protective measures for your shops and garages. The risk of flooding is becoming increasingly real.
It appears that attempts are being made to destroy the Artificial Lake dam to create construction land, in an area that is state-owned and adjacent to the green part of the Great Park of Tirana.
By Eng. Erjon Kalaja.
