EIB ready to finance Počitelj section and the largest bridge on the corridor!

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has launched a process to review the possibility of financing another section of the Corridor 5C motorway, specifically the section from Počitelj to Bijača, with an estimated value of 100 million euros, the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP) has learned! This section also includes a large bridge near Počitelj, one kilometer long and 91 meters high, NAP has learned.

The powerful European financial institution has thus shown preliminary interest in financing the construction of a part of the new 21-kilometer-long section. Information about the start of the review process was also published on the official website of the European Investment Bank on Friday.

Ensad Karić, Director of Autoceste FBiH, confirmed this information to NAP, stating that they have been officially notified that the project has entered the review process.

- The EIB has shown readiness to finance the second part of this section, which is a total of 21 kilometers long and goes from Počitelj to the border. They would finance the part from Počitelj to Međugorje, while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is already financing a 10-kilometer part, of which five kilometers are already built, and the other five are under construction - Karić told us.

According to him, this is a very important section that serves as an entrance to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was one of the most important arguments for initiating the loan application process from the EIB.

- This section from Počitelj also includes a bridge one kilometer long, and it is by far the largest bridge on the entire corridor and the most expensive structure on this section. According to our plans, we could enter the tender process and select contractors as early as this year - says Karić.

Karić: Tender and contractor selection by the end of the year

The start of the review process, as NAP learns, means that there is a preliminary will and agreement, but that EIB experts will now, together with experts from the Public Enterprise Autoceste FBiH, which is the project holder, review all aspects, after which the loan will proceed to approval. As stated by the EIB, it is expected that this project will facilitate trade, contribute to the development of tourism, the regional and national economy, and further improve life in the entire region.