'Strategic Vlora Airport'/ Karakaçi: The state will guarantee its operation despite disagreements between shareholders
The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi, stated today that the Vlora International Airport constitutes one of the most important infrastructure projects of the decade in Albania and that any delay or blockage of it brings direct economic and reputational consequences for the country.
During a press conference, the minister focused on the situation created as a result of the dispute between shareholders, while assuring that the state will guarantee its functioning despite the disagreements between shareholders. "Vlora Airport represents a critical point of sovereignty and national security, over which the state exercises full supervisory and regulatory powers. Its non-operation or blocking is not simply a matter of private business, but a matter of public and state interest," Karakaçi said.
According to the minister, every day of delay in the implementation of the project translates into economic losses for tourism operators, the local community and the state budget, while also damaging Albania's image in the eyes of foreign investors. Karakaçi stressed that concessionary airports of a strategic nature are under the supervision of the state, which guarantees their functioning in accordance with the legal and contractual framework.
The Minister underlined that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has followed all phases of the project in accordance with legal and contractual obligations, while expressing concern about the delays created. " The physical blockage of the construction site, judicial conflicts between shareholders and contractual violations have brought critical delays and reputational damage to the project. This behavior will not be tolerated and the state will use all legal means to guarantee compliance with obligations ," he declared.
According to him, the conflict that has hindered the development of the airport is a civil and contractual dispute between private parties, where the Ministry is not a party and does not hold an interest in favor of any shareholder. However, he stressed that the Albanian state has the obligation to guarantee that no dispute between private entities prevents the realization of an infrastructure of national importance.
"The resolution of the conflict belongs to the parties and the competent courts, but this cannot serve as an excuse for not implementing contractual obligations and not putting the airport into operation. Vlora International Airport is currently not operational. We must understand that, in the sense of this concession contract and airports in general, operability is not only related to the construction of the civil work, but also to obtaining all relevant certificates for permitting air operations. This process has not yet been completed and it is a public fact that neither the full completion of the civil infrastructure nor the operability according to the terms of the contract, which should have been fulfilled by this moment, has been achieved. The dispute that has received public attention during this period is a private conflict between two companies that have voluntarily participated in the competition for the construction of the Vlora airport. This dispute, which has gone from the civil level to court proceedings and even criminal proceedings, is affecting further delays in the realization of the airport's operability and the reputation of the project," he said . minister.
He added that the recent events are unpleasant both for Albanian citizens, for whom this infrastructure work is important, and for the Albanian government and state, which aims to develop tourism and the economy through this investment. "For this reason, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy is committed to implementing all relevant clauses of the concession contract, in order to guarantee the realization of the airport's operability, despite the disputes between the parties," the minister said.
He added that the ministry is ready to use all legal and contractual instruments, including the activation of relevant clauses, to ensure the opening and operation of Vlora Airport according to the established deadlines. Field works for the construction of Vlora International Airport officially started in November 2021 by the consortium Mabco Construction, YDA Group and 2A Group. According to the initial contract plan and investor statements, the airport was expected to be completed within about 3 years, with the aim of being functional and starting operations within this period.
The conflict over the Vlora International Airport is related to a clash between the shareholders of the concessionaire company Vlora International Airport (VIA), Mabco Construction and 2A Group, which has opposed the management structure and the way in which control is exercised over the project. Disputes over the division of shares and decision-making rights have escalated into legal proceedings and mutual legal measures, leading to a blockage of the company's administration and, as a result, delays and suspensions of works on the ground. The situation has created an impasse between the private parties, which has directly affected the progress of the project.
The commissioning of the airport will enable direct connections to European and regional destinations, extend the tourist season, increase the flow of visitors and facilitate foreign investment in the coastal area.
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