About 365 million euros for 35 years. This is the estimated value of the Milot-Balldren concession, the 17-kilometer-long road that will be built and operated by four private companies.
Translated into kilometers, the bill comes to about 21.5 million euros per kilometer. But not all of the amount is construction costs.
According to the procurement documents, around 182.5 million euros are foreseen for construction and rehabilitation, while the rest is for design, payment system, operation and maintenance over 35 years. Construction alone is estimated at around 10.7 million euros per kilometer.
The project also includes a tunnel with two tubes, each about 850 meters long, to bypass the city of Lezha.
The winner of the competition announced by the Ministry of Infrastructure is the consortium of companies “Salillari”, “ALB TIEFBAU” of Flamur Hoxha, “InfraKonsult” of Redi Struga and “ERALD-G” of Gëzim Ismaili.
But among the names that will implement the 35-year contract, there are also people who have ended up in SPAK files.
“ERALD-G” is owned by Gëzim Ismaili, whose name has been mentioned in the investigations into the file known as the “Aruba Group”. The Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party, Belind Këlliçi, has publicly stated that Ismaili is involved in investigations related to suspicions of international drug trafficking and money laundering. In June 2026, it was also reported about security measures imposed within the framework of this file.
This is an ongoing investigation and not a finding of guilt. But it is not the only name.
Redi Struga of “InfraKonsult” has also been involved in the SPAK’s investigative actions. In June, the Special Prosecution Office ordered inspections as part of the investigation into suspicions of property alienation in Zvërnec.
So, two of the companies in the consortium that will build and operate Milot-Balldrenin are linked to people involved in cases that are currently under investigation.
Meanwhile, not all details of the agreement have been made public.
The procurement register shows the winning consortium and the estimated value of approximately 365 million euros, but important contract data is still missing, including the final contracted value, the division of participation between the four companies, and the financial plan of the winning bid.
Milot-Balldren is, meanwhile, a project that comes with precedent.
In 2018, the concession was awarded to ANK, but the contract was later terminated for failure to meet financing conditions.
The SAI’s audits for the first procedure identified problems in the financial documentation, including discrepancies in the declared amounts and financing deadlines.
Eight years later, Milot-Balldren returns for the second time. And this time, two of the names associated with the winning companies are simultaneously in the spotlight of SPAK. (TCH)