Albania approves construction of PV plant near Kukes airport

The Albanian government has approved a request by Kukes Airport's owner Global Technical Mechanics and local construction firm Bami to develop a 12-MW photovoltaic (PV) plant in the airport's area in the north-eastern village of Shtiqen.

The plant is expected to become operational within three years, according to the government.

The new project builds upon the existing concession contract signed between the government and the Global Technical Mechanics-Bami consortium in 2019, aiming to turn an existing airfield into an alternative airport to Albania’s main airport in Tirana.

Kukes International Airport Zayed, built with investments from United Arab Emirates' company Emaar Properties, operated its first flight in April 2021. The airport was closed in 2023 following the withdrawal of Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air just a year after starting operations there. This left the facility with only a few flights operated by Turkish-Albanian company Air Albania, which subsequently also suspended operations.