In mid-June, according to reports, the tender for the development of the port of Elefsina, one of the most important development projects for West Attica and the coastal front of the industrial zone as a whole, is expected to start. According to the same information, the preparation of the tender documents is being completed in order to open the procedure for the sub-concession of part of the port’s land zone.
The process is expected to attract strong investment interest, as the port has a strategic geographical location, direct links to major road axes and significant growth potential in sectors such as freight, energy, shipbuilding and supply chain.
Elefsina has been undergoing a gradual transformation in recent years, attempting to leave behind its image as a purely industrial area and acquire a new development footprint. The port is considered a key element of this transition, as it can act as a gateway for investment, job creation and the upgrading of the entire region.
The plan of the Yperta Fund foresees that the tender will involve the sub-concession of part of the land area of the Elefsina Port Authority, at the location of Vlycha, an area of about 800 hectares that today remains essentially unused and is linked to the heavy industrial history of the area.
This zone currently hosts old industrial and port facilities, landfill sites and activities of limited commercial use, while for years it was a degraded area next to the bay of Elefsina. The plan envisages its transformation into a modern commercial and transit centre, with potential for the development of activities related to shipping, supply chain, energy and shipbuilding.
The strategic importance that the port of Elefsina can acquire for the economy, energy, shipping and combined transport was recently highlighted at a conference by Alexandros Exarchou, CEO of the AKTOR Group, and Panos Xenokostas, President and CEO of the ONEX Group.
It should be noted that the two companies have already announced their cooperation in the bidding for the project.
The two leaders outlined a project that goes beyond the simple commercial exploitation of a port and involves the creation of a new logistics, shipbuilding, energy and transport hub with a wider footprint for the Greek economy and the country’s geostrategic role.
According to Alexandros Exarchos, Greece needs more and better organised ports, as geopolitical developments, changes in freight flows and the increased need for energy transport create new conditions for South-Eastern Europe.
As he said, Elefsina has significant comparative advantages, as it is close to Attica, can be connected to rail and road networks and has available space for the development of organised logistics centres.
According to him, the development of the port can complement Piraeus and contribute to the creation of a second strong transit hub, capable of serving the increased trade and energy needs to Northern and Central Europe.
The head of AKTOR directly linked Elefsina to the so-called “vertical energy corridor” and Europe’s new needs for natural gas and LNG. He noted that the European Union’s gradual decoupling from Russian natural gas creates a great need for new energy facilities, storage and LNG transportation.
“The issue is not only the price, it is also about securing the quantities,” he said, warning that Europe will need significant new LNG supplies in the coming years.
In the same context, Panos Xenokostas stressed that Elefsina could develop into an integrated port and industrial hub, combining commercial activities, shipyards, logistics and energy services.
As he said, the aim is to create a “holistic infrastructure” where a ship can load and unload goods, carry out repairs, refuel with energy and at the same time be directly connected to rail and road networks.
“It’s not just a commercial development,” he said, noting that the project is about creating a new ecosystem around the sea, shipping and energy.
According to him, one of the key benefits that could result is the enhancement of combined transport and faster movement of goods from Greece to the rest of Europe.
The ONEX president and CEO noted that connecting the port with rail, road networks and shipyards can reduce transport times and costs, while creating conditions for the development of new activities around the supply chain.
She also made special reference to shipbuilding and maintenance, noting that the operation of a modern port combined with shipyards can create an integrated grid of services for shipping.
As he said, a ship will be able to carry out cargo unloading, refuelling, technical support and repairs in the same area, an element that – according to him – significantly enhances the country’s competitiveness.
At the same time, Xenokostas linked the development of Elefsina with the need to create new energy and port facilities for LNG, which he described as a key transitional fuel for shipping and industry.
“It is here to stay,” he said of LNG, noting that alternative technologies do not yet have the scale to meet market needs.
According to him, the development of related infrastructure can create new investment, new jobs and greater domestic value added around shipping, energy and transport.
The two leaders also highlighted the geopolitical dimension of the project, noting that Greece can gain a stronger role in international energy and freight flows.
Alexander Exarchou noted that geopolitical changes and competition between the United States and China are changing the map of transport and energy, creating new opportunities for the country.
For his part, Panos Xenokostas stressed that ports, shipyards, energy and transport networks can no longer operate in fragments, but must be treated as a single ecosystem.
As he said, the connection of ports with the land networks and with the activities around the shipyards to be a crucial condition for Greece to gain a larger economic and geopolitical footprint in the coming years.
