Government allows transfer of Chornomorsk port for 40 years without bidding

The government has granted the right to transfer the Chornomorsk port to a private operator without mandatory bidding. The decision postpones the use of an electronic platform for large-scale concessions until 2027, raising questions about the transparency of the process.

This is evidenced by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

The Cabinet of Ministers has authorized the concession of the Chornomorsk port for 40 years without electronic bidding through Prozorro. Resolution No. 1613 of December 9 temporarily abolishes the obligation to use the electronic system for large concession projects.

Previously, the procedure for holding concession tenders stipulated that starting from January 1, 2025, all tenders, including the publication of documents, should be held exclusively through Prozorro. The Cabinet of Ministers has now postponed this rule for two years - until January 1, 2027.

Thus, the transfer of the Chornomorsk port to a concession may take place outside the electronic bidding system, raising questions about transparency and control over large state assets.

In September, Odesa region launched a large-scale investment project in the port industry, the largest since independence. A public-private partnership was launched in Chornomorsk to upgrade key terminals and restore container traffic, with more than a billion dollars expected to be raised.

The project includes the First and Container Terminals with six deep-water berths and full infrastructure: state ownership is retained, and the investor will invest, modernize and manage the facilities under a long-term contract.

Ukraine, together with its European partners, has also planned to integrate its transportation routes into the European network, including the Alexandroupolis-Odesa highway. Particular attention is paid to the development of the Danube region's infrastructure and its full inclusion in the TEN-T network, which will increase port capacity, create reliable alternatives to sea and land routes, and connect the transport systems of Ukraine and Moldova with the European one.

Анна Бальчінос