Expansion begins in Durr쳠Seaport, completion expected by 2010

By Gajtis Bejleri
DURR̓, June 16 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Minister of Transportation Sokol Olldashi attended ceremonies on Monday celebrating the start of construction to enlarge Durr쳠Seaport. The project is scheduled to be completed in April 2010.
The new ferry terminal will cover 63.000 square meters with a handling capacity of 2000 passengers and 2000 vehicles to speed the arrival of passengers and goods. Currently, due to limited space at the Durr쳠Seaport, many goods must be brought to Albania from the ports of Bar, Montenegro, and Patras and Preveza in Greece, thus increasing their costs to Albanians due to higher tax and transportation duties.
“Being one of the oldest ports in the Mediterranean, this is a huge investment for the city of Durr쳬” said Premier Berisha.
The seaport will also provide easier access to travelers entering and leaving Albania with an expected 1.5 million travelers yearly. Many visitors and Albanian immigrants entering from Italy tend to choose traveling through Montenegro and Greece in order to avoid the long lines at Durr쳮
The Durres expansion has taken seven years of planning while awaiting the building funds that were approved by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The 22 million Euro loan was approved by EIB and EBRD in 2001 and four years later a plan was ready for development. The winning bidder, Kuwaiti-based Al Kharafi Group, submitted a proposal exceeding the 22 million Euro funding. After the company declined to fund the difference, the Albanian Government reached an agreement with Slovenian STC d.d., another construction company that had bid on the project.
According to government sources, the new project developed by STC d.d. will cost 15.2 million Euros and should be completed by April 2010.