TIRANA, June 11 /ATA/-By Maela Marini/ Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi, emphasized today the importance of the Thumanë-Kashar highway, as part of one of the major axes of the Adriatic-Ionian Corridor, which enables regional connectivity within the framework of the European integration of the Western Balkans.
Karakaçi today responded to the opposition’s questions in Parliament during the questions and answers’ session requested regarding the concession ‘For the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and transfer of the Thumanë-Vorë-Kashar road axis.
Karakaçi emphasized that the highway has significant national importance as it connects the northern part of Albania with the central areas and other regions of the country.
‘The total investment of the concessionaire, which includes construction, routine and deep maintenance, operating costs, bank interest, payment of VAT as well as corporate tax that will be paid into the state budget, is estimated at around 1 billion euros over the entire contract period. This is the cost of the contract. Meanwhile, the expected revenues from the operation of this axis are assessed at around 1.3 billion euros over a 35-year period,’ said Karakaçi.”
The Minister emphasized that the concessionaire does not only cover the initial construction, but also routine and deep maintenance carried out during the years of the contract, as well as the traffic risk and management of the axis for decades.
In this context, the Minister stated that the investment–profit ratio for the project is considered to be within international parameters for projects of this nature.”
Minister Karakaçi underscored that the current model represents a pure concession, with the investment fully financed by the concessionaire.
He further clarified that the Albanian state did not contribute financially to the construction of the project, as had been the case under the previous plan. Consequently, the state’s commitment is limited solely to a traffic guarantee for the first eight years, capped at a maximum value of €22.8 million.”
Minister Karakaçi emphasized that, in accordance with the concession law, it is entirely reasonable for the concession contract to extend over a 35‑year period, thereby ensuring the economic feasibility of the investment and the guaranteed return of capital.
He further underlined that this infrastructure project is already functional and fully operational for all citizens.
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