Hani i Elezit, 04.11.2023 – The inauguration ceremony of tunnels 6 and 7 in Han i Elezit was held today and the railway line Hani i Elezit – Fushë Kosovë was reopened.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, the Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Hekuran Murati, the Ambassador of Italy to Kosovo, Antonello de Riu, the Head of Cooperation from the EU Office in Kosovo, Johannes Stenbaek Madsen, the Head of the EBRD, Sergiy Maslichenko and the Head of J.S.C. Infrakos, Naser Krasniqi have participated in the ceremony organized by the Ministry of Economy and Infrakos.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that it has been 13 years since the rehabilitation of Line 10 began, the overall project foresees 13 new bridges and 7 tunnels reconstructed according to the highest European standards of railway transport.

He expressed gratitude to the European Union, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, for supporting the financing and rehabilitation of this railway line, which will bring the citizens of Kosovo even closer to the European Union.

“For years, this project faced many challenges and obstacles. They are being overcome thanks to the determination of the managers, engineers and workers of the Kosovo Railways — the public enterprise Infrakos, our Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Economy, under which umbrella is the public enterprise Infrakos, and the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers”, said Prime Minister Kurti, adding that in addition to the rehabilitation of Line 10, we have already signed a cooperation agreement with the Republic of Albania to build the Pristina-Durrës railway, where the aim is to build a dry port that turns the capital of Kosovo into an important center of trade.

The Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli said that we had a double reason to look forward to this inauguration, on the one hand, we are building the necessary infrastructure for the economic development of the country, on the other hand, we are celebrating the work of the Public Enterprise Infrastructure of Kosovo Railways – Infrakos, which we oversee on behalf of the Republic.

Minister Rizvanolli emphasized that beyond the support we have provided to date, together with the Ministry of Infrastructure, we are finalizing the framework agreement for financing the railway infrastructure for the next 5 years and this will determine the obligations of the Government to support operations and capital investments in modern and safe railways in our Republic.

“I thank the Board of Directors and the senior management of the Public Enterprise Infrastructure of Kosovo Railways – Infrakos for their commitment to the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, for the increase of revenues for 6 months over 23% and the collection of debts for over 34%. I thank the European Union, the European Development Bank and the European Investment Bank, for the continuous support in capital investments”, Rizvanolli further said.

The Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, spoke about the importance in economic development of the restoration of the railway line that connects Kosovo through Skopje with the port of Thessaloniki, while the railway from the northern part of Kosovo connects our country with the countries of the European Union.

He emphasized that in addition to the rehabilitation of the railway network in the territory of Kosovo, the construction of the railway that connects Kosovo with the port of Durrës will be of particular importance, enabling goods to reach Kosovo through cheaper transport.

The investment in the rehabilitation of the railway network and tunnels is an investment with support from the European Union, the European Development Bank and the European Investment Bank.