Koper - Luka Koper, the operator of Slovenia's sole commercial port, has announced signing a EUR 60 million syndicated loan agreement with NLB and Intesa Sanpaolo Bank, to finance its investment activities.

In an announcement posted on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, the company said the loan has a fixed interest rate with quarterly repayment instalments. These will be paid from mid-2023 to the end of 2031.

Luka Koper is amid an extensive investment drive. Last year it inaugurated a 100-metre extension to Quay I of the container terminal.

Construction work on storage facilities that are being built there is to complete by mid-2022 when two new on-shore cranes are to be put up.

The company has also completed the construction of a multi-storey car park for 6,000 cars, opened a new lorry gate and a new petrol station.

Quay I is to be extended further, this time to the north, with several more investments planned in the coming years including building new berths, additional storage space and a new lorry terminal.

Further expansion is planned to back terminals and plots under the national zoning plan for the port that are not yet owned by the company. Investments in sustainable development are also planned.

The company is planning capital expenditure to the tune of EUR 68 million this year.