Slovenia is counting on securing infrastructure funding from the EU's EUR 315bn investment package, in particular for the Koper-Divača rail upgrade, Infrastructure Minister Peter Gašperšič said after EU transport ministers discussed projects potentially eligible for funding.
Member states have been asked to nominate projects to leverage the funding. Slovenia proposed all projects that it hopes to co-fund with EU money in the financial period 2014-2020.
The rail upgrade is top of the list of the EUR 4bn-worth of projects which also includes several other rail upgrades, motorway projects, and construction of hydro plants.
"We are seriously counting on the investment in the second rail [between Divača and Koper], the project is also advanced enough to be implemented quickly," he said.
The ministry expects to obtain the building permit at the end next year, with construction works potentially starting in 2016.
At first the ministry will try to secure financing for Koper-Divača with domestic partners, in particular rail operator Slovenske železnice and port operator Luka Koper.
If that fails, a call for bids will be announced for foreign investors, according to the minister.
Source: SloveniaTimes
Photo source: Balkaneu, Balkaneu
