The transformation of the urban waste dumpsite in the area of Porto Romano in the city of Durres is nearing its completion. The area that for almost a half of a century had become an hotbed of environmental emergency, a source of pollution with irreparable damage to land and to the health of population, is now set to become an ecological park and an attractive public recreational space not only for the Durres citizens. The Eco-Park will include not only a pedestrian zone, but also a series of facilities and services for all age groups, from sports grounds to recreational spaces.

“It was really unimaginable that a hotbed of cancer existed right at the heart of Europe and on the edge of the Mediterranean. The pollution has been totally eliminated now and on the site of a previous huge wound we build a huge green heart of the city. This is a super area that will feature sports and playgrounds, recreational spaces and everything else that turn the site into a spectacular park,” Prime Minister Rama said as he inspected the ongoing work on the ecological park.

In addition to the ecological park, a new industrial area and the new photovoltaic park are set to be built in the area, in a bid to transform it into an engine of the local and mainstream economy. “The investment for another solar power plant with an installed capacity of 110 megawatt will kick off soon. In the meantime, site preparation work is also underway to pave the way for construction of new residential complex with housing units, a health care centre and sports facilities and grounds. This part of the city will become a tourist attraction and a huge engine of the economy in Durres and whole Albania. This is a vision that is becoming a reality and of course it takes its time to fully materialize. It is time to take Durres to a whole new level. The foundations have been already laid and we should now build all the systems that would transform Durres into a house that children would take pride in, so that leaving this home is no longer a forcible choice, but merely an alternative one chooses as we live in an open free world,” the Premier said, underlining that the coming years are vital to the efforts to complete the projects and reforms already launched.