The Albanian government has postponed the deadlines for the 1.4 billion euro project to develop a luxury resort on the island of Sazan, citing technical, legal and infrastructural difficulties that have slowed the implementation of the initial plan.
The new decision of the Strategic Investment Committee at the end of 2025 changes some of the key deadlines set a year earlier in the 2024 decision that granted strategic investment status. The institutions admit that the action plan was not implemented within the time frame due to the complexity of the project and the coordination between the institutions and the American investor Atlantic Incubation Partners LLC.
The changes directly affect the negotiation and preparation phase of the project. The deadline for submitting documentation by the investor is extended to 90 days from the previous 60, while the period for negotiating the agreement is increased to 120 days, with the possibility of an extension for another 120 days.
The tasks for state institutions have also been revised. The Ministry of Economy is given more time to consolidate property and transfer assets to the Albanian Investment Corporation, while the deadlines for determining the conditions for the development of the tourist marina and the inclusion of beaches in the official list have also been adjusted.
An important change relates to the costs of clearing the area from pyrotechnic hazards. Unlike the initial decision where these costs were expected to be covered by the investor, the burden now shifts to the Ministry of Defense.
The document notes that progress has been made in several areas. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the parties, 10 rounds of negotiations have been held, and expertise has been provided to protect the interests of the state. The Ministry of Defense has completed an inventory of assets and identified the costs of clearing the area, while property registration has also been carried out.
The Sazan Island Development Project envisages an investment of around 1.4 billion euros for the construction of a tourist complex with marinas, hotels, residences and other tourist services on an area of around 45 hectares. The development will be carried out on Sazan Island in Vlora, which is currently under the administration of the Ministry of Defense and partly a marine and natural protected area.
The investment has been proposed by the American company Atlantic Incubation Partners LLC and is being developed in cooperation with Albanian state structures through the Albanian Investment Corporation and the Albanian Seaports Development Company. The project has strategic status./Monitor
