New international airport in Albania
international airport
08 Feb 2023
/ 01:16
CORFU. A new International Airport is under construction in Albania, the third one after that in Tirana and Kukes, 10km from Vlora.
The airport will occupy an area of 400 stremma, as one of the three construction companies stated on its official website, and will be about a quarter of the size of Athens Airport.
However, the construction of another international airport in a small country like Albania is of interest - where it is being built, the period of construction and who is building it. Let's look at it in more detail.
Why build an international airport in Vlora?
Vlora (Albanian: Vlorë) is the second largest port in Albania, after Durrës, with 80,000 residents. It is the city where Independent Albania was proclaimed on 28 November 1912 and for a short time it was the capital of Albania.
The airport, the construction of which is expected to be completed in 2024, will include two 2-mile runways and a hangar for aircraft maintenance and cargo service, according to the construction company's website.
The government's goal is to attract more tourists to the southern part of the country.
The construction of the airport threatens protected areas such as the Vjosa-Narta Lake, which provides shelter to over 200 species of birds and is therefore causing reactions from ecological organisations.
The Italian MEP Eleonora Evi brought the issue to the Commission with a question at the end of December 2022:
"The location is a significant wetland area which is listed as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and Key Biodiversity Area and has been proposed as an N2000 area. It includes 11 different habitats, 8 species of reptiles and amphibians, 10 species of mammals and 8 species of fish which are covered by the Habitat Regulations.
What measures will the Commission take regarding the plans to construct this airport in the Vjosa-Narta protected area?
What will it do to ensure that Albanian legislation is in line with the Habitat Regulations and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as part of Albania's admittance to the EU?"
Period of construction
The airport is being built at a time when the TAP pipeline uses Albania as an intermediate point in the transfer of gas to Europe at a location 17km northwest of Fier (tap-ag.com) and could increase the role of this neighbouring country on the geopolitical chessboard if we take into account the rearrangements of energy corridors which are being brought about the conflict in Ukraine.
Who is constructing the airport?
The Swiss company Mabetex is responsible for the project in a consortium with two companies from Turkey and Kosovo. Mabetex belongs to Behgjet Pacolli, which had important positions in the Kosovo government between 2011 and 2019. The company is involved in construction work in Turkey, Kazakhstan and Russia.
The construction of the airport will cost $125m and the company will manage it for 35 years.
However, the construction of another international airport in a small country like Albania is of interest - where it is being built, the period of construction and who is building it. Let's look at it in more detail.
Why build an international airport in Vlora?
Vlora (Albanian: Vlorë) is the second largest port in Albania, after Durrës, with 80,000 residents. It is the city where Independent Albania was proclaimed on 28 November 1912 and for a short time it was the capital of Albania.
The airport, the construction of which is expected to be completed in 2024, will include two 2-mile runways and a hangar for aircraft maintenance and cargo service, according to the construction company's website.
The government's goal is to attract more tourists to the southern part of the country.
The construction of the airport threatens protected areas such as the Vjosa-Narta Lake, which provides shelter to over 200 species of birds and is therefore causing reactions from ecological organisations.
The Italian MEP Eleonora Evi brought the issue to the Commission with a question at the end of December 2022:
"The location is a significant wetland area which is listed as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and Key Biodiversity Area and has been proposed as an N2000 area. It includes 11 different habitats, 8 species of reptiles and amphibians, 10 species of mammals and 8 species of fish which are covered by the Habitat Regulations.
What measures will the Commission take regarding the plans to construct this airport in the Vjosa-Narta protected area?
What will it do to ensure that Albanian legislation is in line with the Habitat Regulations and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as part of Albania's admittance to the EU?"
Period of construction
The airport is being built at a time when the TAP pipeline uses Albania as an intermediate point in the transfer of gas to Europe at a location 17km northwest of Fier (tap-ag.com) and could increase the role of this neighbouring country on the geopolitical chessboard if we take into account the rearrangements of energy corridors which are being brought about the conflict in Ukraine.
Who is constructing the airport?
The Swiss company Mabetex is responsible for the project in a consortium with two companies from Turkey and Kosovo. Mabetex belongs to Behgjet Pacolli, which had important positions in the Kosovo government between 2011 and 2019. The company is involved in construction work in Turkey, Kazakhstan and Russia.
The construction of the airport will cost $125m and the company will manage it for 35 years.
