Port of Alexandroupoli: Why was the decision to privatize it change, what is the goal

by

Investments aimed at upgrading the port’s infrastructure will be promoted

In the preparation of a business plan for the port of Alexandroupoli, TAIPED is proceeding immediately, after and since the cancellation last Thursday of the tender for the sale of a majority percentage (at least 67%) of the share capital of the Alexandroupolis Port Authority.

The goal is for the business plan to be ready in a few months and to incorporate the needs from the developments of the last few months, such as the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, but also the upgrading of the role of the port in the transport of goods in Southeast Europe, as an alternative to the Dardanelles.

The port of Alexandroupolis is the only large port in Thrace and is the most important commercial hub of the wider region, as it serves passenger, commercial, fishing and tourist vessels. It is connected by ferry to Samothraki, and during the summer season there are routes to the islands of the Northeast Aegean.

Among its advantages is the fact that it is connected and with the railway axis towards Thessaloniki, but also with Egnatia Odos. At the same time, it will acquire an additional “qualification”, as the railway connection with ports in Bulgaria is already underway and there will also be the possibility to load and unload goods from ships to wagons and vice versa, at the piers. Finally, according to existing information, the port is at the center of plans for liquefied natural gas imports to the Balkans, through the promoted construction of a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.

In this context, as reported by factors with knowledge of the whole situation, investments aimed at upgrading the infrastructure of the port will be promoted. For example, docking larger ships and serving commercial customers, taking into account the military presence there. Meanwhile, there will also be staff recruitment, as well as infrastructure procurement.

At the same time, as mentioned by the aforementioned factors, a master plan (which will include the business plan) for the environmental studies will also be promoted. The specific master plan, it is pointed out, can be undertaken by TAIPED, given that it has the specific expertise. The Fund already assumes this role for all the ports included in its portfolio, while, in consultation with the competent Ministry of Shipping, this role can be extended to all the country’s ports. Similar tactics are expected for the port of Kavala.

RES-EMP

You May Also Like

Recommended for you