Work to construct 12 new residential buildings kicked off today in Durres on the site of the old buildings that sustained structural damages because of the earthquake on November 26 last year. The project foresees construction of a total of 597 apartments in 12 residential buildings, the work for construction of which has commenced intensively, while a total of 2084 quake-affected families in the city of Durres are set to be housed in new apartments.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of State for Reconstruction, Arben Ahmetaj, and the Mayor of Durres, Emiriana Sako, inspected the work to construct an apartment building that is designed to be stronger, safer and a more beautiful building than the one that used to stand on the site prior to the devastating earthquake. “This is the second residential building whose construction has already begun here in Durres, where 12 other residential buildings will be constructed on the site of the previous ones on the request of the local residents. The 12 residential buildings will be home to 597 apartments. If we are to take into account the residential buildings due to be constructed in Spitalle, Manze and other administrative units, a total of 2084 apartments will be made available to the quake-affected families in Durres alone,” Mayor Sako said.

The new building features seven storeys, with the first floor designed to house commercial units, whereas the rest six floors will include apartments. “Top official of the Emirati multinational real estate development company located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that has undertaken construction of 2000 apartments is visiting Durres today. The majority of these apartments will be built in the new residential complex in Spitalle, as well as a number of single-family homes and apartments due to be built on the site of the old buildings. Their construction will be all part of the project we will press ahead with the leading Emirati company,” the Premier stated.

“It has been a period of intense work – PM Rama went on saying – because everyone now knows how many stages and procedures this process takes from the site clearing and preparation work to the construction process. But, as far as this case is concerned we faced the problem concerning the roadmap to the agreement with the Emirati government that we signed few days ago as part of our visit to the United Arab Emirates. The Emirati authorities have promptly responded by assigning and sending their people and the founder of the company himself is visiting Albania to push for the construction work. In the meantime, we are happy because the Emirati authorities have also confirmed their readiness to kick off project on colossal transformation of the Durres port into a tourist port, a project expected to have an incredible impact. A new seaport will be also built and we are confident that together with this partner will build one of the most tourist ports in the Mediterranean. So, everything expected to ensue in economic development terms will be simply translated into a major impact on Durres and whole Albania as the investment is estimated over 2 billion dollars, without taking into account the investment in new seaport and the number of jobs due to be created.”

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PM Rama then inspected the works to repair communal premises in a number of other residential buildings. The affected residents have already received government compensation grants to cover repair work costs of their apartments.

The Premier visited one of the recently-reconstructed apartments, with the family members themselves acknowledging that they now “live in a much better apartment than the one they used to live in.” 

“It has been really tough for you all. Thank you for patience and I would forgive anyone for criticism and distrust,” the Premier said during conversation with the members of this family.

“I live in the third floor. My apartment had sustained serious damages due to the earthquake. I live with two kids. I would like to thank you for everything, the rental bonus, the compensation grant to cover interior repair costs,” another resident said.

Durres is one of the quake-affected areas that have benefited the majority of reconstruction funds, Minister Ahmetaj said. “More than $44 million has been distributed in government compensation grants,” he added.

Repair work on 145 residential buildings has completed, and 9865 households have received the compensation grants for their apartments rebuilding.

A total of 615 residential buildings will now be safer, stronger and more beautiful than the ones damaged on the tragic night of November 26 last year.