Binding offers for Thessaloniki Port Authority set for July
Mid-July will be the new deadline for the submission of binding bids for a controlling stake in Thessaloniki Port Authority (OLTH), its chief executive officer, Dimitris Makris, said during the week in the context of a presentation of its results to investors.
The OLTH CEO also stated that out of the eight consortiums short-listed since 2014, at least four have reiterated their interest following an invitation to that effect by the state privatization fund (TAIPED). It is also possible that one or more of the other four groups will do the same in the three months remaining.
Sources say that among the interested parties are APM Terminals, which is Maersk’s subsidiary in the port facility management domain, the GEK Terna-RZD consortium, and P&O.
In the three months left, Thessaloniki Port Authority will have to resolve a number of issues for the tender to proceed, starting with the amendment of the concession contract between the Greek state and OLTH, as has been the case with Piraeus Port Authority. Talks on this issue are ongoing, without no decisions having been made to date.
In the next few days the OLTH governing board is expected to issue its final approval for its development master plan so that it can be submitted to the Shipping Ministry. The five-year plan provides for investments of 309 million euros, mainly concerning the extension of Dock 6. For this year, it provides for 15 million euros, part of which will go toward a new service to receive domestic containers destined for export.
