The Port Authority of Durrës, located in northern Albania, has revealed plans to initiate a tender for the construction of a new cargo terminal at its largest port, Durrës, in the first quarter of 2024. The first phase of this ambitious project has received a construction permit following the successful completion of the executive design for the new facility, as announced by the Port Authority of Durres.

The detailed project was developed by a consortium comprising the Dutch engineering firm Royal Haskoning DHV and the Albanian consulting firm Abkons, according to earlier reports from the Government of Albania.

An international tender for the construction of the new Porto Romano port is scheduled to be opened in the first three months of 2024. Following the completion of the primary project and the acquisition of the development permit for the first construction phase, a consultation panel will be convened with NATO representatives to discuss the construction of the naval base, an integral component of this strategic initiative.

The new port, situated in the Porto Romano area in the northwestern part of Durrës, is part of a broader transformation plan. The existing port in the southern part of the city will be redeveloped into a new tourist-residential project featuring a marina valued at 2 billion euros. The principal investor for this undertaking is the United Arab Emirates-based Emaar company.

The construction timeline for the new port is set at five years. Additionally, there are plans to establish rail connections between the port of Porto Romano and the intermodal terminals in Pristina and Struga in Macedonia.

Belinda Baluku, the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania, has affirmed these developments. In conjunction with expanding the capacity of the Durrës port, preparations are underway for the expansion of the existing Tirana-Durrës highway (SH2), including the construction of a stop lane with minimal costs for land expropriation. Furthermore, plans include the construction of a ring road around Tirana, upgraded to highway standards, and a new railway connection to Pristina.