MIDDLE EAST

Israeli port tenders interest

13 years ago

The Israeli transportation ministry has said that four operators are in the running to operate two new container terminals at Ashdod and Haifa in Israel.

The race to operate the new terminals at Ashdod (pictured) and Haifa appears to be hotting up

Unconfirmed reports say that Terminal Investments Ltd (TIL) of the Netherlands, Philippines headquartered International Container Terminals Inc (ICTSI), Germany’s Eurogate and France’s Bollore Group, have all expressed interest.

“We have received four good proposals from global companies ready to come to Israel,” Israel’s transportation minister, told Haaretz.

But so far the operators have remained silent over the issue, except for ICTSI.

Hans-Ole Madsen, Senior Vice President ICTSI (EME Region), told Port Strategy: “As part of our business development efforts we continuously evaluate investment opportunities within the container port sector.”

“We are following the process in Israel, to understand the plans and evaluate the attractiveness of these projects,” he added

But he would not comment on whether ICTSI will be submitting a formal bid next year or not.

There was speculation back in October over which operators would be in the running for the tender, but all refused to comment back then.

Apparently, the interested parties will now be assessed as part of a pre-qualification period before submitting formal bids in 2014.

Construction of the new terminals could begin as early as next year – they are expected to cost as much as US$1bn each. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in 2019.

The Israel Ports Company (IPC) first issued the tender on a build, operate, transfer basis for Ashdod’s Southport terminal and Haifa’s Bayport terminals back in July 2012.