Copelouzos remains interested in privatisation of Alexandroupolis port

Alexandroupolis, Greece (Ports Europe) April 22, 2020 - Alexandroupolis is one of four ports that the Greek state, represented by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), plans to privatise in 2020. The likely model is the sale of a majority stake. Despite the health and economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus, the Greek government is pressing ahead. The local Copelouzos Group, one of the largest infrastructure investors, owning and operating assets across the transport, energy and exhibition centre sectors. is considering a bid as part of a consortium of overseas companies, although no details have been released. The company already has links with the area. Subsidiary Gastrade is developing the FSRU Alexandroupolis LNG Terminal in Northern Greece off the shore of Alexandroupolis which will be mainly supplied with liquified natural gas (LNG) from Qatar and the USA. The Terminal comprises a floating LNG storage and regasification unit (FSRU) and a 28 km pipeline system. The LNG storage capacity of the FSRU will be up to 170,000 m³ and the maximum daily regasification capacity 22.7 million m³. The FSRU will be moored 10 km offshore the city of Alexandroupolis and will be connected to the National Natural Gas Transmission System via a 28 km pipeline (24 km subsea pipeline and 4 km onshore pipeline). This is a Project of European Common Interest (PCI – EU Regulation 347/2013), i.e. a priority project for the European Union. As such this project will enhance the security of supply, diversify the energy sources and routes and support the development of competition in Greece and the wider region of Southeast Europe. Greece is attempting to develop itself as a regional energy hub, taking advantage of a number of regional initiatives including the aforementioned Alexandroupolis gas project; the under construction Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) which will deliver Azeri gas to southern Italy via Greece and Albania as of next year; the proposed East Mediterranean (EastMed) pipeline which if built would deliver Israeli gas to Europe; and the route of the vertical connecting pipeline – the IGB project (Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria) to become operational by 2021. The routes of both TAP and EastMed (proposed) pass through Alexandroupolis. There is also considerable U.S. interest in the port. Speaking at the 7th annual Exposec-Defenseworld Conference in Athens last May, U.S. Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey Pyatt said that Greece’s geo-strategic location is key to security and stability in the Southeast Mediterranean. He reiterated Washington’s interest in the northern ports of Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli. “From a security and economic standpoint, it makes sense to further develop the port (Alexandroupolis) to benefit both our strategic relationship and the Greek economy,” Pyatt said. “And in this regard, I remain very focused on finding an American investor, as that port’s privatization moves forward”. This interest has been repeated several times and the ambassador has also visited the port city. The multimodal port offers four-way combined transport services: by sea, by road, by rail and by air (Alexandroupolis International Airport is less than 6 km away). It is at a point that is now directly connected to the Egnatia Road and the railway line to Thessaloniki, but also to the Turkish and Bulgarian borders. In February, U.S. interest in investing in the privatisation of Greek regional ports intensified as the local Goldair was reported to have held talks with U.S. companies and Washington’s ambassador in Athens about forming a consortium to bid for operating rights in forthcoming privatizations of regional ports. Copyright (C) Ports Europe. All Rights Reserved. 2020.

Copelouzos remains interested in privatisation of Alexandroupolis port

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Copelouzos remains interested in privatisation of Alexandroupolis port

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