Stakeholders to oversee Koper-Divača rail line project together
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held in Brdo pri Kranju convened by the government to pore over the project of building a second Koper-Divača track.
"To ensure effective cooperation we will form a special project council which will play a strategic and advisory role," Prime Minister Miro Cerar told the press after the meeting.
The meeting featuring a host of ministers and representatives of state-controlled companies directly involved in the project comes after the government took several key decisions related to the investment.
Estimated at EUR 1.4bn, the development of the second track has been in the planning stages for over a decade.
With the announcement on Friday that the track had obtained a building permit, the government and the stakeholders used the meeting to debate implementation.
The project council will feature representatives from the stakeholders: the ministries of infrastructure, finance and economy, the Slovenian Sovereign Holding, port operator Luka Koper, railways company Slovenske železnice, infrastructure investment company DRI and the special purpose vehicle 2TDK.
Their first order of business will be to review all options with the aim of ensuring quick implementation at best possible price, said Luka Koper chairman Dragomir Matić.
The government established the special purpose vehicle on Thursday that will be provided with initial capital of EUR 200m from the state and then look to secure support from private investors.
The participants of today's meeting agreed that the realisation of the project will require public-private partnership, but left options open on the form of partnership.
"We wanted a candid exchange of views, including on any differences we may have," said Cerar. It was agreed that a financing model would be sought with the aim of providing for effective implementation and minimal burden on taxpayers.
While the partners agreed to push ahead with public-private partnership, Matić said there was "no talk on concessions" for the track or a new pier at the port. "We're looking at all options at this stage."
The port and government have been at odds over a concession for building a third pier in Koper, after the government indicated it was willing to give it to the investor which would bankroll the track.
While the meeting leaves the question of the form of private partnership, the government is confident that this will not present slow down implementation.
"We are currently focused on sticking to an optimistic timetable for the project," said Infrastructure Minister Peter Gašperšič.
The building permit is valid for three years but contains the option of two 12-month extensions.
He said interest in the project was growing in countries which rely on the port of Koper. Letters of support have come from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, while Hungary is studying possibilities for investing, he said.
Talks are also underway with Poland, Austria and southern German states.