Thumanë–Kashar road concession (Gener 2 / G2 Infra)
Status: Under investigation (SPAK). Parliament refused to lift Balluku's immunity for arrest on 12 Mar 2026 (Citizens.al).
Summary
The Thumanë–Kashar highway was tendered in 2018 as a public-private partnership. Exit News reports that Gener 2 won on 19 July 2018 with a bid of €225.8 million against a fund limit reported at €245 million. The tender was cancelled in early 2019; Gener 2 sued, and the concession was reinstated in a changed form, with a concession contract signed on 9 May 2022 (Shqiptarja, Dec 2025).
SPAK is investigating the concession as one of 11 tenders in its case against former deputy PM Belinda Balluku. SPAK's dossier, as reported by Shqiptarja on 26 Dec 2025, gives a concession value of €245,750,755 and names Bashkim Ulaj as owner of Gener 2. Reported figures and the contract length (13 vs 35 years) differ by source. No charge against Ulaj for this concession was found in the sources retrieved.
Key facts
- Gener 2 bid reported at €225.8 million (Exit News, 19 Jul 2018).
- Concession contract signed 9 May 2022 by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Gener 2 and G2 Infra (Shqiptarja, 26 Dec 2025).
- SPAK dossier value €245,750,755 (Shqiptarja, 26 Dec 2025).
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 (1)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- Gener 2 was awarded the tender in 2018 and the concession contract was signed in 2022 (Exit News; Shqiptarja).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat the tender was steered and the concession value inflated. These are SPAK allegations as reported, not court findings.
- AllegationThat Ulaj benefited because of political ties (press claims).
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationSPAK investigates the Thumanë–Kashar tender as one of 11 tenders in its case against Balluku (as reported).
- AllegationPress claims that the concession benefited Ulaj because of political ties (unverified).
Open questions (3)
- Current QKB partners and administrators of Gener 2 and G2 Infra.
- Whether SPAK has charged any company officer.
- Reconciling the 13-year vs 35-year term and the €225.8m vs €245.75m figures.
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- No response from Ulaj or Gener 2 to the SPAK dossier is reported in the Shqiptarja article of 26 Dec 2025.
- Balluku's position is covered in(claim-balluku-denial).
Figures
Money trail →Gener 2 winning bid, Thumanë–Kashar PPP
€225,800,000
tenderSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Bid value as reported by Exit News (19 Jul 2018); fund limit reported at €245m; VAT treatment not specified.
Date: 19 Jul 2018 · Payer: Republic of Albania (Road Authority / Ministry) · Payee: Gener 2 sh.p.k.
- €225 Million Concession for Thumanë–Kashar Highway (opens in a new tab)Exit News · 19 Jul 2018 · journalism · EN
Concession value in SPAK dossier
€245,750,755
concessionSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: As stated in the SPAK dossier as reported by Shqiptarja (26 Dec 2025). Differs from the 2018 bid; reconciliation not found.
Date: 26 Dec 2025 · Payer: Republic of Albania · Payee: Gener 2 sh.p.k. / G2 Infra sh.p.k.
- Hetimet e SPAK mbi koncesionin 245 milionë euro (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja.com · 26 Dec 2025 · journalism · SQ
Timeline
Full timeline →Government
Gener 2 wins Thumanë–Kashar PPP tender at €225.8 million
Exit News reports Gener 2 won the 20.8 km Thumanë–Kashar tender with a bid of €225.8 million against a fund limit of €245 million, beating Gjikuria, Alpin SRL and Gruppo Adige Bitumi. Exit's article gives a 13-year PPP term; another source gives 35 years.
Government
Thumanë–Kashar concession contract signed with Gener 2 and G2 Infra
Concession contract no. 2088 rep., 670 kol. signed between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Gener 2 sh.p.k. (concessionaire) and G2 Infra sh.p.k. (concession company), per Shqiptarja (26 Dec 2025). Other reports give 26 May 2022 as the reactivation date.
SPAK
SPAK dossier on Thumanë–Kashar concession sent to Parliament
Shqiptarja reports the Thumanë–Kashar concession (value €245,750,755 per SPAK dossier) is one of 11 tenders in SPAK's case against Balluku, and that SPAK submitted a dossier to Parliament seeking permission to arrest her.
Parliament
Parliament rejects SPAK request to allow Balluku's arrest (82 against, 47 for)
Parliament voted against SPAK's request to allow Balluku's arrest; the majority argued the measure had no practical effect since she no longer holds executive office. The investigation continues.
Connections
concessionaire owner (per SPAK dossier, as reported)
Evidence: Gener 2 and G2 Infra signed the concession contract on 9 May 2022; Shqiptarja names Ulaj as owner.
SPAK investigation (one of 11 tenders)
Evidence: SPAK's dossier lists the Thumanë–Kashar tender among 11 tenders; Parliament rejected the arrest request on 12 Mar 2026.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 5 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 5 sources
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja.com
- Date
- 26 Dec 2025
- Publisher
- Exit News
- Date
- 19 Jul 2018
- Publisher
- Citizens.al
- Date
- 12 Mar 2026
- Publisher
- SeeNews
- Date
- Jul 2018
- Publisher
- QKB (Albanian business registry), copy on OpenCorporates.al
- Date
- 16 Dec 2020