End of September the submission of offers for the port of Alexandroupolis

By Anastasia Vamvaka

The deadline for submitting financial offers for the port of Alexandroupoli has been extended to the end of September. The tender concerns the acquisition of at least 67% of the share capital of the Alexandroupolis Port Organization (OLA SA), while the submission of binding offers was set for today. The filing date has been pushed back at least twice since the beginning of the year.

According to information, the schemes that are interested needed more time to better prepare their proposals, which is why they are postponed until after September 18.

In the expression of interest submission process on October 18, 2020, the following participated:

1. Quintana Infrastructure & Development,
2. Joint venture CAMERON SA- GOLDAIR CARGO AE- BOLLORE AFRICA LOGISTICS,
3. INTERNATIONAL PORT INVESTMENTS ALEXANDROUPOLIS joint venture, which consists of the companies BLACK SUMMIT FINANCIAL GROUP – EUROPORTS-EFA GROUP and GEK TERNA,
4. OLTH S.A.

The Port of Alexandroupolis Organization has been granted by the Greek State the right to exclusive use and operation of the land, buildings and facilities of the land port area of ​​the port of Alexandroupolis and the Makris fishing shelter. The company also has administrative responsibilities over the port of Kamariotissa, Samothrace, and the fishing sanctuary of Thermon, Samothrace.

A strategic investment

In its commercial aspect, the port of Alexandroupolis has all the prospects to be an important regional point for transporting goods from the East to the West and vice versa. This is helped by the location as well as the rail and road connections it will have. The construction projects of the Eastern Peripheral Road of Alexandroupoli, which is the road connection with the Egnatia Road, contribute to this, as well as the tender procedures for the upgrade projects of the railway section Alexandroupoli – Ormenio (Railway Egnatia Road).

The intense American interest in investing in the port of Alexandroupolis is evident from the most official lips, especially for the military capabilities that are already partially exploited by upgrading the NATO-US-Greece cooperation, while two American companies are participating in the competition. The American Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, during the recent visit of the Greek Minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, to the USA, emphasized with great emphasis the importance of the port of Alexandroupoli for the USA and NATO.

“I would also like to highlight the priority access your government has granted to our forces at the port of Alexandroupolis which allows us to continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine and counter hostile elements, as well as conduct exercises and operations in the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea region”.

Energy transfer hub

Similar reports have been made by the former US Ambassador to Greece, Jeffrey Pyatt, who chose from his last statements and appearances to refer to Alexandroupolis. At an event marking the start of the implementation of the Alexandroupoli LNG terminal, a project that was also his personal diplomatic bet during his years in the country, he said that “it is a fantastic honor to have this event in Alexandroupoli in the last my duty as US ambassador to Greece.

In 2017 I came to Alexandroupolis and we began a systematic effort on behalf of the US government to fulfill our commitments and at the same time support the development of the city as a critical strategic transit hub, for military transport, but also for energy. After Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine on 24 February we saw exactly how important this is. I am very proud that the United States was able to work with the Greek government and the European Union and local partners here in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace to implement this project.”

However, there is strong interest from the other participants of the competition who are working on their proposal, so that the price is commensurate with the current situation in the port, but also such that the first place is guaranteed. This golden ratio will also judge the final investor towards the end of the year.