The coast of Orikum, southern Albanian region of Vlora, is one of the 14 hotspots, where work is underway to clean up the area as part of the National Action Plan, a process that will continue apace throughout Albania’s coastline in collaboration with the local government and residents.

Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the area to oversee the operation on the ground. “This is another hotspot where teams are engaged in a cleanup action launched in collaboration with the armed forces too. As we already saw in the Pylli i Sodes area, although this is a less polluted area, littering here is not caused in the last week or a day ago, but this is actually about disposal of waste products accumulated over many years,” the Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro said, adding that a detailed cleanup plan is being prepared for the whole Vlora region. “Once the ongoing cleanup action being carried out by all teams here completes, we would have to build a system and the system should be definitely implemented by the mayoral authorities and structures either in Vlora, Himare or Sarande. We are devising a work plan that is designed to include whole region of Vlora. We will launch such operation in other parts of the coastline next week, because pollution is a serious problem in the coastal cities of Kavaje and Durres, especially in the urban areas adjacent to the forests, which look like abandoned territories although they are under the management of the local government authorities. I think we will clean all coastal areas under the National Action Plan due to last until next May, ahead of the upcoming tourist season,” Minister Kumbaro said.

Pollution caused by private entities continues to be a major concern for which Prime Minister Rama stressed that the penalties stipulated by law will be toughened.

“Those who pollute the environment will be held to account. The main responsibility for this situation rests with the main polluters and the main polluters are private entities such as hotels, restaurants, factories, all economic operators that produce waste while exercising their private activity. Those who are active in summer such as businesses will face high penalties, but also individuals who cause pollution will be fined. Beyond the penalty, it is very important to involve the State Police in this large-scale operation because it is the duty of every police officer in every area to be the eye of the state and then of relevant inspectors to do their job. But I am convinced that if we stick to this plan, we will be able to sort this out and make this action irreversible,” PM Rama said.

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The Independence House Park in the city of Vlora is a construction site where work is in full swing under the project designed transform the site into a modern urban space for local residents and visitors.

PM Rama toured the construction site, where project managers briefed the government head on the details of the project, which envisages the planting of around 1000 trees of various types. “This is the citrus orchard where 120 trees of five different types of citruses will be planted. Shape has been given to the extension of the waterfront promenades, also known as Lungomare 1 and Lungomare 2, it stretches along this part towards the so-called gallery area. The project envisages creation of a huge circle of olive trees. Around 180 olive trees of seven different types will be planted. This whole area here features pine trees,” the project manager said.

Prime Minister Rama praised builder for the work done so far, saying it precedes a fantastic urban space. 

Construction of the nearby Tourist Port is set to kick off in the next few weeks, a project designed to become a significant source of revenue for the city. The new tourist port is also expected to become one of the most powerful engines of the national economy.