Core Network, Durres Port: Reconstruction of Quays 1 & 2 The Port of Durres is the biggest in Albania, handling around 75% of trade exchanges, although its quays (i.e. are suffering of serious structural problems, such as the extensive corrosion extent or the limited cargo capacities, which requires a soon to be intervention on the ground. A feasibility study was completed in 2014, however it did not have any follow up at that time. At the moment the financial agreement has not been signed yet, apart from the approval of the EU grant of million grant in order to conduct a new feasibility €1.1 study (to be completed by the end of 2018), the update of the detailed project design and the tender documentation. Upon condition of the loan approval in time by EBRD, the works on the ground should start by mid-2019 and get concluded by 2023. Together with the railway project Durres-Tirana-Rinas airport, this investment at the port is expected to contribute to the establishment of a major multimodal transportation core network corridor section in Albania and at the regional level. Energy: On hold further notice Albania prioritizes its firm anchoring in the regional energy among which the establishment of the interconnection grid with Macedonia and the operability of the grid with Kosovo*, as well as the integration in the ENTSO-E network. At the moment it has in place functional power interconnection grids with Kosovo*, Montenegro and Greece, where the former was completed in 2017 and is yet not operational due to the bilateral dispute between Kosovo* and Serbia. Although not functional, this power interconnection line constitutes a financial burden for both Albania and Kosovo* and a solution is needed before the system starts deteriorating. Notwithstanding the field ambitions, in terms of present challenges, Albania still needs to sufficiently meet the domestic energy demand so as to guarantee an adequate economic and social development, along with establishing of a competitive energy market and consolidating the related institutional and legislative framework.
Core Network, Durres Port: Reconstruction of Quays 1 & 2 The Port of Durres is the biggest in Albania, handling around 75% of trade exchanges, although its quays (i.e. are suffering of serious structural problems, such as the extensive corrosion extent or the limited cargo capacities, which requires a soon to be intervention on the ground. A feasibility study was completed in 2014, however it did not have any follow up at that time. At the moment the financial agreement has not been signed yet, apart from the approval of the EU grant of €1.1 million grant in order to conduct a new feasibility study (to be completed by the end of 2018), the update of the detailed project design and the tender documentation. Upon condition of the loan approval in time by EBRD, the works on the ground should start by mid-2019 and get concluded by 2023. Together with the railway project Durres-Tirana-Rinas airport, this investment at the port is expected to contribute to the establishment of a major multimodal transportation core network corridor section in Albania and at the regional level. Energy: On hold further notice Albania prioritizes its firm anchoring in the regional energy among which the establishment of the interconnection grid with Macedonia and the operability of the grid with Kosovo*, as well as the integration in the ENTSO-E network. At the moment it has in place functional power interconnection grids with Kosovo*, Montenegro and Greece, where the former was completed in 2017 and is yet not operational due to the bilateral dispute between Kosovo* and Serbia. Although not functional, this power interconnection line constitutes a financial burden for both Albania and Kosovo* and a solution is needed before the system starts deteriorating. Notwithstanding the field ambitions, in terms of present challenges, Albania still needs to sufficiently meet the domestic energy demand so as to guarantee an adequate economic and social development, along with establishing of a competitive energy market and consolidating the related institutional and legislative framework.
2018-10-25-Connectivity_FINAL_ENG_VN.docx