Kičevo–Ohrid Highway
Summary
Date Reported: 16 Jan 2022
Location: North Macedonia
Companies
China National Water Resources & Hydropower Engineering (Sinohydro) - Client , Granit Construction Stock Co. - Client , Ilinden Struga - Client , Victoria Invest LLC - Client , China Exim - SponsorProjects
Kičevo–Ohrid Highway - SiteAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Public: ( Number unknown - North Macedonia , Road-building , Gender not reported ) , Workers: ( Number unknown - North Macedonia , Road-building , Gender not reported ) , Ecosystem: ( Number unknown - North Macedonia , Road-building , Gender not reported )Issues
Impact on notable or protected areas , Work & Conditions , Access to Information , Corruption , ComplicityResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Source type: NGO
16 January 2022
The 57-kilometre Kičevo–Ohrid Highway is the largest and most expensive infrastructure project in post-independence North Macedonia. Deemed to be of strategic economic importance by the North Macedonian authorities, the development is also highly controversial. Funded through a loan from the Export–Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) and with Sinohydro as its principal contractor, the project has been targeted by corruption investigations and marred by governance and transparency issues, as well as environmental concerns. Technical difficulties have led to successive delays and cost overruns, with the latest price tag close to 600 million EUR. Construction started in 2014 and is expected to be completed in 2023...