UPDATE 1 - Italy’s Enel, Czech CEZ Bid for 76% of Albania's Power Distributor OSSH

A commission headed by deputy Energy Minister Neritan Alibali is conducting a technical evaluation of the bids, the ministry said in a statement.

Austria's Energy Steiermark withdrew from the tender, the ministry added.

In June the ministry allowed Enel, CEZ and Energy Steiermark to participate in the tender.

Albania’s government offered earlier this year between 51% and 76% of OSSH to a strategic investor. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group's private sector arm, has been consulting Albania’s government on the unbundling of OSSH from the power utility KESH generation and the transmission assets and on the tender process since January 2007.

Albania expects the potential buyer to cut power losses, the statement said.

Some 40% of all the generated electicity in Albania is lost during transmission and distribution to the end consumer due to the outdated grids.

More than 95% of Albania’s electricity output is generated by hydropower plants, which are unable to meet rising domestic demand.