What is really happening in the port of Thessaloniki

Evan Savvidis

Far from reality, due to the strict terms of the concession contract, is the scenario of selling a percentage of the share capital of the Port of Thessaloniki, according to OLTH officials.

“According to State Council Decision No. 547/2022 issued last spring regarding the port project being implemented in the port of Piraeus, in order to proceed with this specific project as well as in all other ports, it is a strategic project. An environmental impact study is required. This applies to all ports. In the country This specific decision also affected the project implementation plan in Thessaloniki.

In order to meet the new conditions that have arisen, ΟΛTH has proceeded to draw up the updated master plan and the corresponding SMPE, which have already been submitted to the competent bodies and whose approval will be supplemented by the issuance of a presidential decree. With the issuance of the Republican decision, the company will be in a state of complete readiness to implement the project.” Mononius circles adjacent to Beltera From Ivan Savvidis, deducing that the engines are running and everything will run faster.

When do mandatory investments begin?

This means, according to THA, that the construction contract announced in 2022 for the extension of Pier 6, a project with a budget of 180 million, the implementation of which is a contractual obligation for the Russian investor, will be signed immediately. The project will upgrade the port’s status in the international port industry by providing direct service to major container ships of up to 24,000 tons. TEUs.

sAccording to research by Deloitte, the mandatory investment generates annual revenues of more than €230m across the entire port ecosystem directly or indirectly affected by the Pier 6 extension, with increased government revenues from direct and indirect taxes of more than €35m per annum, generating value Added more than 90 million euros annually during the construction period.

However, the start time of the work does not seem to be easily predictable, as the green light from the Council of Ministers was frozen, and therefore, the issuance of the presidential decree due to the elections and is not expected. before the last quarter of 2023.

The possibility of selling the port of Thessaloniki started last week, when Konstantinos Petros, the American representative Hi Capital He declared that he would not leave her finance Unaffected if Ivan Savvidis enters a sales promotion. US investors are determined to bid for the port of Volos, as they intend to participate in the concession scheme favored by the public. Eight schemes have shown interest in the port of Volos, among them the joint venture of Israel Shipyards with Halybourgia Hellas of the Manesis family, as well as OLTH.

information you want High To have approached its management Beltera In 2022, which the Savvidis Group has neither confirmed nor denied. We remind you that the public controls 7.27% of the company and other shareholders 25.73%.

However, Mr. Petros explained that, in any case, the entry of the investment company into THA would be a complex problem for the company itself. Hi Capital. At least until today, the company has been listed, while its Articles of Association High It does not provide for investments in companies traded on a regulated market. He, of course, based his “Declaration of Intent” on Thessaloniki’s port prospects, as well maybe Acquire A strong role in the wider region. Let us remember here that the concession contract ends (after modification) in 2051.

However, the financial numbers for this particular one Origin From the group shows its strength: THA debt is zero, it has equity capital of 180 million and reserves of 69 million euros, while turnover in 2022 increased by 5.6% to 82.2 million.