Residents of Gjorica e Poshtme clashed with representatives of a subcontractor entity, which had arrived on the ground for the start of works for the construction of a photovoltaic park. The residents of of the village had gathered to oppose the intervention on the surface that they consider “common land” and the traditional pasture of the community. They have prevented the continuation of the works of the Solar Park Gjoricë company, while the police forces of the Bulqiza Police Station have also arrived in the area. Solar Park Gjoricë is a company owned by entrepreneur Marin Gjonaj, President of Gjonaj Group Holding. Residents accuse the businessman of taking their land for the development of his business in the field of electricity production from solar panels.
The representative of the subcontractor company has stated that the entity he represents has a contract with the investor and that the project documentation is in accordance with the procedures followed by the institutions.
According to him, the company has come to the field to start the parceling and fencing work, while the works are expected to continue in the coming days.
“We are representatives of the company, we have a contract with the investor… attached to the contract is the decision of the KKT for the construction permit”, stated the representative of the company.
He explained that the entity that was on the ground is not the investor, but a company contracted to carry out the works.
Residents: We were told 1 hectare, then 42.5 hectares appeared
Residents claim that the conflict has started for months and is mainly related to the way, according to them, the project was presented to them in the first stages.
According to them, initially a resident of the area asked for their consent for the use of about one hectare of land. Later, they say they learned that the project includes about 42.5 hectares of forest and pasture land, while other areas were also discussed.
“We were told about one hectare, but now 40 hectares are coming out. They are taking us out, we have nowhere to take the cattle”, said one of the residents.
Residents say that the area is used by the community as pasture and that hundreds of cattle graze in this area.
In another statement, one of them said that it is about a space where about 800 cattle graze.
According to them, taking the land for photovoltaic panels would significantly reduce grazing areas and harm the family economy of the area.
“We have taken the case to SPAK”
Residents claim that opposition to the project is not only a conflict over land use, but is already part of a criminal and legal investigation process.
They state that they have filed the case with SPAK and that they are waiting for an answer from this institution for their claims on the project’s procedures and documentation.
“Until SPAK is finished, we have no work”, said one of the residents during the clash on the ground.
Another resident stated that SPAK has confirmed the receipt of the documentation presented by them, while claiming that the project documents contain violations.
These are claims of residents and do not constitute a finding of an investigative institution or court.
80 families and a power of attorney to oppose the project
The opposition to the project has also passed into legal representation.
On April 17, 2026, a group of families from Gjorica i Poshtme signed a special notarial power of attorney in Peshkopi, through which they authorized lawyer Adriatik Lapaj and lawyer Dorina Prethi to follow the administrative and judicial procedures related to the project.
According to the act, the legal representatives are authorized to request the documentation and decisions of the institutions related to the area of 42.5 hectares, to participate in the meetings of the Municipal Council of Bulqiza and to represent the residents in court proceedings.
Residents have also stated that more than 80 family heads have signed the opposition to the use of the surfaces that they consider “village property”.
According to them, this land has been used for more than 200 years as common pasture and has not been divided during land reform processes precisely because of its common function.
What does the “Gjorica Solar Park” project envisage?
The “Gjorica Solar Park” project was approved by Decision no. 41, dated 29.05.2024 of the National Council of the Territory.
According to the technical documentation, it is a photovoltaic park with an installed capacity of 40 MW.
The layout plan envisages construction on a total area of about 401,000 square meters, or nearly 40 hectares, while the area occupied by photovoltaic panels is over 158,000 square meters.
The project also envisages the construction of a 110/35 kV electrical substation, electrical booths, inverters and the necessary associated infrastructure.
“This is the only pasture that the village has”
For residents, the conflict is not only related to the construction of a power plant, but to how the land will be used and the impact this may have on livestock.
In their complaint to the institutions, they have argued that this area has been used for cattle grazing for generations.
“This is the only pasture that the village has. If it is taken for panels, the cattle will be left without space and our families without the main source of livelihood”, says one of the concerns raised by the residents.
The residents say that they are ready to pursue the case in legal ways and that they will oppose any intervention in the field until their claims are clarified.
Meanwhile, the representative of the subcontractor company that was in the field stated that the works are being carried out on the basis of the contract with the investor and the documentation approved by the institutions.
The clash has already moved from debates to public hearings and City Council meetings, to the ground, while it remains to be seen whether investigative institutions will step in to examine residents’ claims over procedures, ownership and use of surfaces.
At the moment, the residents declare that they will not allow the continuation of the works without a full institutional clarification.
“We, as people, as citizens, as villagers and as owners of this land, will not run away”, said one of them during today’s clash.
