The competition to determine the concessionaire for the container terminal in the port of Chornomorsk is planned to be announced by the end of the current year, with the final selection expected in the first quarter of 2026. Participating companies will have two months to submit their applications, after which a winner will be selected, and the signing of the concession agreement is scheduled for a later date.
This is reported by Finway
Innovative Approach to Concession and High Requirements for Investors
A distinctive feature of this project is the use of a competitive dialogue, which significantly expands opportunities for attracting investors compared to previous concession agreements in the ports of Kherson and Odesa. The focus is not only on the size of the concession fee but also on the scale of investments and the development of port infrastructure. The necessary documentation was prepared by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which have significant authority among potential investors.
“We are interested not only in the size of the concession fee; we are interested in investments and the development of the port. The technical and economic justification and project preparation were carried out by the EBRD and IFC. They have immense trust among investors,” explained the official.
Development Potential and Interest from Global Companies
Historically, the Chornomorsk container terminal handled up to half of Ukraine’s total container flow, which amounts to about 540,000 TEU per year. However, the terminal’s facilities now require modernization and significant investments due to gradual decline. Despite this, interest from international companies in this project remains high: over 40 companies from various continents have already expressed their willingness to consider participation in the concession. The future investor will have the right to manage the terminal on a 40-year basis, and expected revenues to the state budget could reach 1 billion US dollars.