Plans to revamp Albania’s main seaport, Durres, into a luxury marina with residential blocks and build a new commercial port 6 kilometers north, face significant delays as the Albanian government’s procurement process yielded no bidders. The state procurement agency confirmed the cancellation of the bidding process after no offers were submitted, despite high expectations set by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who had previously described the project as “a new chapter in the country’s economy.”
The government initially awarded the redevelopment of the current Durres Port to a consortium led by Emirati businessman Mohamed Alabbar, envisioning luxury apartment buildings and a yacht marina. This decision, made unexpectedly in 2022, sparked controversy due to Albania’s reliance on Durres as its only functional seaport, which currently manages 95% of the nation’s international trade. Last year alone, 6.42 million tons of goods passed through the port, out of 6.76 million tons processed by Albania’s seaports.
The European Union, which had already allocated €28 million to modernize the existing port, expressed surprise at the government’s sudden pivot to a marina-focused project. The inclusion of a "Golden Passport" clause for foreign investors in the contract with Alabbar’s group added further controversy, allowing investors to gain Albanian citizenship.
Due to the lack of private sector interest, the government has decided to fund the first phase of the new port project from the state budget, with costs estimated at 39.3 billion leks, or roughly €400 million. However, the total cost of the project remains uncertain, raising questions about the financial burden on taxpayers and the project’s future timeline.
