TIRANA, June 17 – A German company which operates the Eastern Terminal in the country’s biggest port of Durres under a concession contract has warned of legal action against Albanian authorities after claiming that its activity has been illegally blocked by rival stevedoring companies.
In a statement, Germany-based EMS APO which in 2013 was awarded a 35-year concession contract to operate the Eastern Terminal of Durres Port says it has suspended its activity after an “unprecedented illegal action staff members of rival stevedoring companies led by their management occupied the terminal of EMS APO assisted by the director of the state owned Durres Port Authority.”
“This is the climax of a campaign that lasts already for months in which the Durres Port Authority with the assistance of the Ministry of Transportation is trying to squeeze EMS APO out of the business,” said the company.
The terminal is mainly used for import and export of bulk cargo such as chrome, clinker and coal, but also for any other kind of cargo like break bulk, general cargo and project cargo.
EMS APO, which is part of the German EMS-Fehn-Group, says it has already invested 5 million euros into the infrastructure of the terminal.
“This is a blatant attempt to exterminate a company that painfully follows all Albanian laws, pays all rents and taxes on time and to the last penny“, says Manfred Müller, the managing director of EMS APO and CEO of EMS-Fehn-Group.
“There is not a single complaint by our customers and our staff is happy to work for EMS APO. In short: We did nothing wrong – except of not paying any bribes. For us these incidents show that the Albanian administration is not at all willing to fight corruption,” he added.
“We will take legal actions against the Durres Port Authority and the Ministry of Transportation. If Albanian courts do not protect binding contracts this will be a clear signal to all foreign companies that foreign investments in Albania are not safe.”
The Transport Ministry and the Durres Port Authority have not officially reacted to the situation.
However, a local newspaper in Durres says the German concessionaire is seeking to carry out the loading/unloading service on its own without permission by the Durres Port Authority and does not allow Albanian licensed companies.
“The concessionaire is claiming to carry out the handling of goods on its own at a time when it is not licensed by the Durres Port Authority,” Gazmend Shalsi, the port director, was quoted as saying by Durresilajm portal.
