The long-awaited €1.2 billion redevelopment of Larnaca port and its marina got the final green light Monday after the Transport Ministry sent a ‘Successful Tenderer Letter’ to the chosen consortium after protracted negotiations.
The consortium awarded the project is Kition Ocean Holdings, a Cypriot-Israeli consortium, composing of investors Eldeman Holding BV and Alexandrou Corporate Services Ltd.
Tender negotiations between the two sides have been ongoing since late 2018 when the consortium’s bid was the only one left on the table after a number of bidders pulled out.
Cyprus Transport Ministry said the letter essentially marks the end of the tender process and the whole project can now move on to the next stage with the signing of contracts between the two sides.
Once the agreement is signed, a 12-month transition period will follow during which the investor will take over the project in its entirety.
This involves the restructuring of the marina for at least 650 berths, the port and surrounding land development over an area of 220,000 sqm spanning to a total of 510,000 sqm.
The development, which also involves real estate, is expected to see the consortium invest around €1.2 billion in the project.
Plans include the development of the marina with the latest technological infrastructure, turning Larnaca port it into one capable of serving large vessels with the expansion of piers, docks and the construction of a modern passenger terminal.
As part of the marina development, there will be a yacht club with a retail park, plus hotels, a private island and residential properties.
Port works will also include the expansion and management of the port, improving current infrastructure such as the interior road network, storage space as well as creating a new terminal for cruise ships and utilising the port for cargo management.
The area between the marina and the port will see infrastructure works carried out, including a road network, green areas, parks, open spaces for events, as well as education and medical centre.
The consortium is also planning residential and commercial development with innovative architecture, streets, and parks.
The project is expected to be completed over a period of 10 to 15 years.
According to the Transport Ministry, the project’s added benefits to the economy should surpass €120 million annually once fully developed.
Under the proposed venture, it is estimated that the state will receive more than €19.6 billion during the lifetime of the project which includes the 125-year lease on the real estate.
The BOT project will see the government receiving a fixed rent and a percentage of the revenue generated through a concession agreement with the port/marina operated on a 40-year lease and the real estate is acquired on a 125-year lease.
After 40 years the port and marina can be handed back to the government who will then decide on their management.
The complete project will span over 10 years as it includes building two hotels (lifestyle/business), nine office buildings (mixed-use) of up to 15 floors each and six luxury apartment blocks up to 13 floors each.
I am really confused by this announcement. We have been told since Feb that this deal was practically done and just needed the contracts/agreements to be signed. The Larnaca’s mayor even threatened to block access to the port if the contracts were not signed within a week – I think that was about about 2 months ago! and now this article ‘simply and yet again’ talks about moving on to the next stage with the signing of contracts between the two sides.
How are we any nearer than the start of this year?
Also is there any detailed plans on-line of where precisely and what they will be doing.
The deal was delayed because MPs demanding an update from the government, the deal was tangled in red tape and a further delay was caused by the coronavirus outbreak.