For the container terminal in the port of Chornomorsk, a concessionaire is planned to be selected in the first quarter of 2026. As reported by Deputy Minister for Community and Territorial Development Aliona Shkrum, the competition for selecting an investor will be announced by the end of this year. After the competition begins, companies will have two months to submit their applications, and the signing of the concession agreement is expected to take place shortly after the selection is completed.
This is reported by Business • Media
Competitive Dialogue and International Trust
Unlike previous concessions in the ports of Kherson and Odesa, a mechanism for competitive dialogue will be implemented in Chornomorsk. This provides participants in the competition with broader opportunities not only regarding the amount of the concession fee but also concerning investments and the further development of the port. The preparation of the feasibility study was carried out by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which fosters increased trust from potential investors.
“We are interested not only in the amount of the concession fee; we are interested in investments and the development of the port. The feasibility study and project preparation were conducted by the EBRD and IFC. They have enormous trust from investors,” explained the official.
Terminal Potential and Expected Investments
Previously, the terminal in Chornomorsk handled up to half of the entire container flow in the country — approximately 540,000 TEU annually. However, over time, its capacity has deteriorated and requires significant investment for restoration and modernization. Despite this, according to Aliona Shkrum, interest from foreign investors remains high: in the spring, over 40 companies from various continents expressed a desire to work with the terminal. It is anticipated that the winner will receive the right to manage the terminal for 40 years. Preliminary estimates suggest that the implementation of the concession could bring up to $1 billion to the state budget.