Skopje, 19 August 2025 (MIA) - The government has decided to begin preparatory work for the full reconstruction of the Skopje-Kichevo railway on Corridor 8. The EU will provide a €5.3 million grant for a feasibility study, and the lead financial institution will be the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which will select a consultant. This will be followed by the second phase, on-site work, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski said Tuesday.

As Nikoloski underlined at a press conference, the railway is in poor condition, making it currently impossible for trains to operate, but within two to 2.5 years after the feasibility study is completed, the line is expected to be finished.

“That is why we decided first to reconstruct it, and then to install modern signaling and electrify the line. Even if it were in good condition, only diesel locomotives would operate on it,” Nikoloski said.

According to Nikoloski, the reconstruction will link Skopje, Jegunovce, Tetovo, Gostivar, and Kichevo.

He also stated that the government has successfully won the ‘Kazandol’ case.

“I want to inform you about the ruling in the ‘Kazandol’ arbitration case, in which the state was sued by several investors. They demanded €115 million in compensation, but I can proudly say that we won the case. All 11 claims against the state were rejected, saving €115 million. The ruling is entirely in our favor, and the case was by no means easy,” Nikoloski noted.

He expects the state to win at least two more cases.

“These are closed proceedings, and no details may be disclosed before a ruling is issued. The procedures are very complex. However, if this trend continues, and I am confident that it will, then the competent authorities will need to seriously examine how the arbitrations were initiated and how we were all convinced that Macedonia would lose hundreds of millions, and sometimes even billions of euros, yet here we are, not losing them, and why this case was closed in December 2023. We reopened it, and we won,” Nikoloski said.

Photo: MIA