The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has initiated procedures for the termination of the concession contract of the Vlora International Airport. SCAN Television has learned from reliable sources that the procedure was initiated today, with the aim of unblocking the situation created after delays in the completion of one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country.
This development comes after warnings made by the ministry during May and June, when it was implied that the state was ready to intervene to resolve the impasse and guarantee the airport's functionality.
In May, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy declared that Vlora International Airport constitutes an infrastructure of strategic importance for the country and that its operation is a matter of public and state interest, and not simply a business relationship between private parties. Then, in early June, the ministry announced that the companies had been given a 30-day deadline to resolve the commercial disputes.
According to information provided by SCAN, with the launch of this procedure, the government has moved to the next phase of contractual mechanisms to resolve the created situation.
Construction works for the Vlora International Airport officially began in November 2021. According to the concession contract and the initial investment plan, the airport was supposed to be completed within about three years and begin operations during 2025. However, the deadlines were not met and the airport has not yet become operational.
The airport's dysfunction is linked to the prolonged conflict between the shareholders of the concession company, which has led to legal proceedings, blocked decision-making, and delays in the implementation of the project.
Vlora International Airport is considered a strategic investment for the country's economic development. Its commissioning is expected to increase air connections with European and regional destinations, extend the tourist season, increase the flow of visitors and encourage foreign investment in southern Albania.
The procedure activated by the government is expected to determine the further fate of the concession contract and the project itself, which is considered one of the most important infrastructure investments in recent years in Albania.
