Rruga e Kombit (Milot-Morinë motorway): 2016 concession tender, Kastrati-linked consortium and toll compensation
Status: Concession in operation since the 2018 toll start (per press reports). No criminal case against Shefqet Kastrati or the concessionaire on this concession found. Value and ownership questions remain unresolved in the sources read.
Summary
The Milot-Morinë section of the Rruga e Kombit (A1/SH10, linking Tirana-Durrës area to Kosovo) was put out to tender in February 2016 by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Balkanweb reported on 22 July 2016 that the ministry announced a Turkish-led consortium (Vendeka) as the preferred bidder, with a 5.6 million euro value over 30 years. Exit.al (2018) reports that the Offer Evaluation Commission's decision was reversed by the Public Procurement Commission after a complaint by the Catalyst consortium, and that Catalyst (with Salillari and Kastrati sh.a. as Albanian members) was named winner in September 2016. The concession company, Albanian Highway Concession shpk, is described by Kastrati's own website as 50% owned by Kastrati Group JSC.
Exit.al reports that Salillari and Kastrati bought 60% of the consortium in early 2017 for about 453,000 euro, that the state guaranteed minimum toll income and agreed compensation of 48.5 million euro over 30 years (announced by Minister of Economy and Finance Arben Ahmetaj in September 2018), and that a 5 euro toll applied from March 2018. These are press reports. Exit.al's claims that the award was irregular and that the stake transfer made the tender 'practically invalid' are the outlet's own characterisations. No court ruling, SPAK charge or KLSH finding specifically about the 2016 award to the Kastrati-linked consortium was found in 39 searches.
A separate December 2013 Shqiptarja report describes a Rruga e Kombit investigation file that the Prosecutor General's Office planned to reopen, and quotes a KLSH audit finding of differences above 230 million euro. That report concerns the earlier period and officials of the previous government, and it is not established whether it concerns the same contract as the 2016 concession.
Key facts
- Feb 2016: international tender for the Milot-Morinë highway, funding limit 6.02 billion lekë (about 45 million euro, Exit.al conversion) (Exit.al, 2018).
- 22 Jul 2016: ministry announced Vendeka consortium as preferred bidder; Balkanweb reports a 5.6 million euro value for 30 years (Balkanweb, 2016).
- Sep 2016: Public Procurement Commission named the Catalyst-Kastrati-Salillari consortium winner after accepting Catalyst's complaint (Exit.al, 2018).
- Dec 2016: concession contract signed; a procurement notice dated 6 Dec 2016 lists a final value of 64,935,000 euro (value taken from a search summary; the notice itself was not opened, HTTP 403).
- Early 2017: Kastrati sh.a. and Salillari shpk acquire 60% of the consortium stake (Exit.al, 2018; months differ between accounts).
- Jun 2017: ministry announces that the state will pay 5 million euro a year for 13 years; total concession cost given as 66 million euro (Exit.al, 2017).
- Mar 2018: 5 euro toll starts on the Milot-Morinë segment (Exit.al; Shqiptarja, 2018).
- Sep 2018: 48.5 million euro compensation over 30 years for reduced tolls, announced by Arben Ahmetaj (Exit.al, 2018).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (3)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- Kastrati's company website states that Kastrati Group JSC holds 50% in Albanian Highway Concession and that the concession company operates the Milot-Morinë concession with the Government of Albania (company statement; not independently checked against the registry).
- Balkanweb (22 Jul 2016) reported the ministry's announcement of the Vendeka consortium as preferred bidder and a 5.6 million euro value for 30 years, and listed Salillari LTD and Kastrati SHA as members of the losing Catalyst consortium.
- A 2017 Exit.al article reports the ministry's announcement of the consultancy tender winner and the maximum state payments (press report of an official announcement).
What is alleged (3)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat the KPP reversal and the Catalyst award were irregular (Exit.al, 2018).
- AllegationThat the 2017 stake purchase was made at a price far below expected revenue (Exit.al, 2018).
- AllegationThat Kastrati has a closer political relationship with the government than the documents show (Teliti, PD, 2019).
Allegations and who made them (5)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationExit.al (2018): the Catalyst complaint was filed after the deadline, and the Public Procurement Commission's reversal of the Offer Evaluation Commission decision was irregular; the outlet calls this favouritism.
- AllegationExit.al (2018): Kastrati and Salillari bought 60% for about 453,000 euro against expected concession revenue of about 400 million euro.
- AllegationExit.al (2018): the state's guaranteed minimum toll income and the 48.5 million euro compensation are 'likely illegal favouritism'.
- AllegationShqiptarja, Democratic Party (Dorian Teliti, 2019): Kastrati is 'the closest oligarch' of Edi Rama and received a 400 million euro concession (party allegation).
- AllegationShqiptarja (2013): the Rruga e Kombit file was among about 20 files the Prosecutor General's Office planned to reopen, with a KLSH audit finding differences over 230 million euro (press report of prosecutorial plans).
Open questions (6)
- Which entity signed the December 2016 concession contract and under which Council of Ministers decision number (not found; the ahc.al and procurement notice pages were not readable).
- What the other 50% of Albanian Highway Concession shpk is held by (not found).
- Whether the 5.6 million, 64.9 million, 66 million, 350 million and 'over 400 million' figures refer to the same obligations (sources conflict; see financials).
- Whether the KPP decision date was 26 or 29 Aug 2016 (sources conflict).
- Whether the 2013 prosecutor/KLSH Rruga e Kombit file covers the same contract as the 2016 concession (not established).
- Current status of any SPAK or Prosecution inquiry into the concession (none found in 39 searches).
Responses (4)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Kastrati Group (company website, undated): describes Kastrati Group JSC as a 50% partner in the concession company established in 2016 (kastrati.al/infrastructure).
- Kastrati Group president Shefqet Kastrati, interview with Monitor (24 Sep 2024, via Shqiptarja): discusses aviation, energy, tourism and insurance, and does not address roads or the Rruga e Kombit concession.
- Minister of Economy and Finance Arben Ahmetaj (Sep 2018, as quoted by Exit.al): 'All the reductions [...] for the citizens of Kukës, for buses, for frequent travelers, amount to €48.5 million.'
- No response from Albanian Highway Concession, Kastrati Group or Shefqet Kastrati to the Exit.al 2018 or Teliti 2019 reports was found.
Figures
Money trail →Tender funding limit, Milot-Morinë (Feb 2016)
€45,000,000
6,020,000,000 lek
tenderSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Funding limit as reported by Exit.al (2018); the EUR figure is Exit.al's conversion ('about 45 million'). Not checked against the tender notice.
Date: Feb 2016 · Payer: Government of Albania (Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure) · Payee: tender (open to bidders)
- Corruption with the Rruga e Kombit - Exit Explains (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · 9 Apr 2018 · journalism · EN
Value of Vendeka preferred bid, 30 years (Balkanweb, 2016)
€5,600,000
concessionSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Balkanweb (22 Jul 2016): 'Koncesioni ka vlerën 5.6 mln euro dhe jepet për 30 vjet.' Not reconciled with the other values in this file; the article does not explain the basis of the figure.
Date: 22 Jul 2016 · Payer: Government of Albania · Payee: Vendeka consortium (preferred bidder)
- Kompania turke fiton koncesionin e Rrugës së Kombit për 30 vjet (opens in a new tab)Balkanweb · 22 Jul 2016 · journalism · SQ
Final value in concession contract notice (Dec 2016)
€64,935,000
contractSource label: UnverifiedStated definition: Value taken from a search summary of the Public Procurement Agency notice (HTTP 403, not opened). Unverified against the document. Listed as contract value, which may differ from the total cost figures reported by Exit.al (66 million, 64.9 million subsidy cap).
Date: 6 Dec 2016 · Payer: Government of Albania · Payee: Catalyst Viva Das General Contracting LLC with Kastrati sh.a. (as named in the notice)
- Formulari i njoftimit të nënshkrimit të kontratës - Albanian Highway Concession (seen in search results) (opens in a new tab)Public Procurement Agency (as hosted on opencorporates.al) · Dec 2016 · official · SQ
State payments: 5 million euro a year for 13 years; total concession cost 66 million euro (Exit.al, 2017)
€66,000,000
concessionSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Exit.al's total. The article gives maximum state subsidy of 64.9 million euro, while 5 million euro x 13 years equals 65 million; the difference is not explained. Consultancy budget 3.6 million lekë (no EUR figure) is separate.
Date: 12 Jun 2017 · Payer: Government of Albania · Payee: Catalyst consortium / Albanian Highway Concession
- Rruga e Kombit Concession Will Cost State 66M (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · 13 Jun 2017 · journalism · EN
Supervision consultancy budget (maximum, without VAT), 2017
3,600,000 lek
contractSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Maximum 3.6 million lekë without VAT, per Exit.al. Funded 50% state and 50% concession holder.
Date: 12 Jun 2017 · Payer: Government of Albania and concession holder (50/50) · Payee: DOLSAR Engineering
- Rruga e Kombit Concession Will Cost State 66M (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · 13 Jun 2017 · journalism · EN
Price paid for 60% consortium stake (Exit.al allegation)
€453,000
otherSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Per Exit.al (2018), price for 60% against expected concession revenue of about 400 million euro. No deed, registry or document cited; allegation.
Date: Feb 2017 · Payer: Kastrati sh.a. and Salillari shpk · Payee: three foreign partners of the consortium
- Corruption with the Rruga e Kombit - Exit Explains (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · 9 Apr 2018 · journalism · EN
Compensation for reduced tolls: 48.5 million euro over 30 years
€48,500,000
paymentSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Figure announced by Minister Arben Ahmetaj per Exit.al (2018). Exit.al's own reading: about 1.6 million euro a year; the article says the government gave no supporting data. The article also cites a rounded 'about 50 million' and an overall cost raised to 350 million euro.
Date: 17 Sep 2018 · Payer: Government of Albania · Payee: Albanian Highway Concession (concessionaire)
- Government Ignores Contract, Offers 50M Extra to Rruga e Kombit Concession Holder (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · 17 Sep 2018 · journalism · EN
Overall concession cost 'raised to' 350 million euro (Exit.al, 2018)
€350,000,000
concessionSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Exit.al (2018) states the overall concession cost was raised to 350 million euro. This conflicts with the 66 million (2017) and 64.9 million subsidy figures; the basis is not given in the article read.
Date: 17 Sep 2018 · Payer: Government of Albania · Payee: Albanian Highway Concession
- Government Ignores Contract, Offers 50M Extra to Rruga e Kombit Concession Holder (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · 17 Sep 2018 · journalism · EN
Guaranteed minimum annual toll income, year one (8 million euro)
€8,000,000
paymentSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Per Exit.al (2018): state covers any shortfall below 8 million euro in year one; toll income above 9.5 million euro is shared. Contract terms as quoted by Exit.al; the contract text was not read.
Date: 17 Sep 2018 · Payer: Government of Albania (budget top-up) · Payee: Albanian Highway Concession
- Government Ignores Contract, Offers 50M Extra to Rruga e Kombit Concession Holder (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · 17 Sep 2018 · journalism · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →Government
International tender opened for the Milot-Morinë highway
Per Exit.al (2018), the tender was published on the Public Procurement Commission system with a funding limit of 6.02 billion lekë (about 45 million euro). The article gives no notice number.
Government
Ministry announces Vendeka consortium as preferred bidder; Catalyst (with Kastrati sh.a. and Salillari) disqualified per Exit.al
Balkanweb reports the ministry's announcement of the Vendeka consortium as preferred bidder, with a value of 5.6 million euro for 30 years, and states the decision could be appealed to the KPP. Exit.al reports that the Offer Evaluation Commission disqualified Catalyst and Luman Biba the same day for lack of toll-road experience.
Government
Catalyst consortium files complaint with the Public Procurement Commission
Per Exit.al (2018), the complaint was filed on 1 August 2016. Exit.al argues the deadline under the rules was 27 July; the outlet's reading, not a KPP finding.
Government
KPP accepts Catalyst complaint and revokes the Offer Evaluation Commission decision
Per Exit.al (2018), the KPP accepted the complaint on 26 August 2016, revoked the award to Vendeka and disqualified it. A search result gives 29 August 2016 for the same decision; the date conflict is unresolved.
Government
Catalyst-Kastrati-Salillari consortium named winner of the 30-year Milot-Morinë concession
Per Exit.al (2018), the KPP's decision led to naming Catalyst, Salillari, Bee Tech, Violiap Ateve and Kastrati sh.a. as winner. Exit.al says the IFC had advised in favour of Vendeka; the minister who backed Vendeka is said to have resigned shortly afterwards (see persons, conflicting accounts).
Government
Concession contract dated 6 Dec 2016 for the Milot-Morinë highway (procurement notice)
A Public Procurement Agency notice seen in search results lists a contract dated 6 December 2016, 30-year term, Catalyst Viva Das as contractor and 'Kastrati' sha as a second named party, final value 64,935,000 euro. The notice (HTTP 403) was not opened; details are from a search summary. Exit.al also says Catalyst became concession holder in December 2016.
Other
Kastrati sh.a. and Salillari shpk acquire 60% of the concession consortium
Per Exit.al (2018), the two Albanian companies bought 60% from the three foreign partners for about 453,000 euro and became sole owners. The months reported vary (January/March, or February, across accounts). No deed or registry extract was read.
Government
Ministry announces DOLSAR as supervision consultant; state cost of concession given as 66 million euro
Per Exit.al (13 June 2017), the Ministry of Transport announced the consultancy winner on 12 June 2017 (consultancy budget 3.6 million lekë without VAT). The article says the state pays 5 million euro a year for 13 years and the maximum subsidy is 64.9 million euro; total concession cost 66 million euro. The article cites no document number.
Other
Nicola Spadavecchia appointed sole administrator of Albanian Highway Concession shpk
Per Exit.al (2018). Date given as end of October 2017.
Government
5 euro toll starts on the Milot-Morinë segment
Exit.al reports that from 23 March 2018 citizens pay 5 euro on the Milot-Morinë segment. Shqiptarja (25 Mar 2018) reports the same toll debate and the ministers who defended the concession. The toll was announced by the ministry.
Government
Government announces 48.5 million euro compensation over 30 years for reduced tolls
Per Exit.al (17 Sep 2018), Minister of Economy and Finance Arben Ahmetaj announced the decision 'last week'; the concession contract (article 11.8) requires reduced prices for frequent users without separate compensation; the state guarantees 8 million euro minimum toll income in year one. Exit.al calls this unjustified and likely illegal favouritism; no decision number is cited.
Parliament
PD cabinet director Dorian Teliti alleges Kastrati is Rama's closest oligarch and holds a 400 million euro road concession
Speaking from PD headquarters (Shqiptarja, 22 Oct 2019). Allegations only; no response quoted; the 400 million figure does not match the documented values listed in financials.
Connections
- Public contract←Albanian Highway Concession shpk (Albanian Highway Concession LLC)Source label: Officially reported
Concession company for the Milot-Morinë concession
Evidence: Exit.al (2018) and kastrati.al both identify the company as the concession holder operating the Milot-Morinë highway.
- Public contract←Kastrati sh.a. (as named in 2016 tender documents; spelled 'Kastrati sa', 'Kastrati SHA')Source label: Under investigation
Member of Catalyst consortium (2016 tender)
Evidence: Balkanweb (2016) and Exit.al (2018) list 'Kastrati' sh.a. among the Catalyst consortium members; the link to Kastrati Group JSC is not established.
Lead member of winning consortium (per Exit.al)
Evidence: Exit.al (2018) names the Catalyst consortium as winner in September 2016; the contract notice names Catalyst Viva Das as contractor.
Consortium member; 2017 stake buyer (per Exit.al)
Evidence: Exit.al (2018) reports Salillari and Kastrati bought 60% in early 2017; Balkanweb (2016) lists Salillari LTD in the consortium.
Former minister; described as promoter of the concession
Evidence: Shqiptarja (25 Mar 2018) describes him as former LSI minister and promoter of the concession; Exit.al's account of the 2016 minister's resignation conflicts.
Minister of Transport in 2016; signatory per Shqiptarja
Evidence: Shqiptarja (25 Mar 2018) states he led negotiations, signed the concession and defended it before a parliamentary committee in 2016.
Announced 48.5m compensation (Sep 2018)
Evidence: Exit.al (17 Sep 2018) reports Ahmetaj, then Minister of Economy and Finance, announced the decision.
- Government decision←Komisioni i Prokurimit Publik (KPP, Public Procurement Commission)Source label: Under investigation
Revoked 2016 evaluation decision; named Catalyst winner
Evidence: Exit.al (2018) describes the KPP decision; the decision text was not read.
- Public contract←Vendeka Consortium (Vendeka Bilgi Teknolojileri Ltd and partners)Source label: Officially reported
Preferred bidder 22 Jul 2016, later disqualified
Evidence: Balkanweb (2016) reports the ministry announcement; Exit.al reports the KPP later disqualified it.
- Government decision←Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE), AlbaniaSource label: Officially reported
Contracting ministry; announced 2016 preferred bid and 2017 consultancy
Evidence: Balkanweb (2016) and Exit.al (2017) report ministry announcements. The ministry was called Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure in 2016; the ministry id is reused from the existing file.
Supervision consultant (5 years, from 2017)
Evidence: Exit.al (13 Jun 2017) reports the ministry's announcement of the consultancy winner.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 12 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 7 sources
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 9 Apr 2018
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 13 Jun 2017
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 17 Sep 2018
- Publisher
- Balkanweb
- Date
- 22 Jul 2016
- Publisher
- Kastrati Group (company website)
- Date
- undated
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 25 Mar 2018
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 2018
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 2 sources
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 10 Dec 2013
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 2018
Source label: UnverifiedUnverified · 3 sources
- Publisher
- Public Procurement Agency (as hosted on opencorporates.al)
- Date
- Dec 2016
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 22 Oct 2019
- Publisher
- Avokati i Popullit (Ombudsman)
- Date
- undated