The Tender Commission has officially launched the competitive dialogue phase as part of the concession tender for the transfer of management rights for the first universal and container terminals at the Port of Chornomorsk. At this stage, potential investors have gained access to the basic terms of the concession, as well as technical and financial information regarding the project; they have also begun analyzing the assets and preparing their own proposals. All tender participants have already signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).
Over the next 75 days, the State – in collaboration with market participants – will formulate the final implementation model for the project. Potential investors will have the opportunity to submit comments and proposals regarding the technical, operational, and financial parameters of the future concession agreement. According to Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, it is precisely this competitive dialogue phase that will enable the development of a balanced cooperation model that takes into account the interests of the State, the business sector, and local communities.
Upon the conclusion of these consultations, the Tender Commission – supported by advisors from the EBRD and IFC – will prepare the final draft of the concession agreement and tender documentation. The project at the Port of Chornomorsk is regarded as the largest public-private partnership in Ukraine’s port sector and the first infrastructure project of its kind to be implemented during the full-scale war. It is expected that the concession will attract a strategic investor to modernize the terminals, enhance port operational efficiency, preserve over 1,000 jobs, and ensure long-term revenue streams for both state and local budgets.