Documents from the Infrastructure and Spatial Planning Ministry that Omerzel presented to the corresponding parliamentary committee show that the grid operator ELES registered damage of EUR 12m and power distribution companies a further EUR 63.5m.

ELES estimates 30 kilometres of transmission lines are destroyed or damaged, while the latest estimates by distribution network operator SODO show that 2,000 kilometres of distribution lines have also been damaged or destroyed.

Rough estimates put damage to the railway operator Slovenske železnice at EUR 34m, which includes damaged infrastructure as well as damage due to disruption of the passenger and cargo transport.

The bulk of the damage on railway infrastructure was on the line between the capital Ljubljana and the port city of Koper, mainly on the section between Borovnica and Pivka.

Damage to state roads that are managed by the Roads Agency according to initial estimates amounts to EUR 8.8m and resulted from removal of fallen trees, ice and ruined traffic signals and signs. The cost of the impassable roads, some of which remain closed, is not available.

A further EUR 3.7m damage is estimated on motorways.

Meanwhile, MPs called on the government to remove administrative hurdles, simplify public procurement rules and secure EU funds under favourable conditions in the committee debate.

Omerzel responded that the government was drafting measures to enable effective damage repairs, which are to be adopted next week.

However, Zvonko Černač of the opposition Democrats (SDS) repeated the party's demand for the government to adopt a crisis bill. The SDS believes Slovenia will have to build new power infrastructure.

The task-force appointed by the government on Monday to coordinate the cleanup and repair of the damage caused by the extreme weather that first hit the country on 31 January is holding its maiden session today.