With some delay transport ministry rushed to save at least something from a major concession programme as proclaimed years ago. For a month of on the table were placed several ports and port terminals, which, judging from past practice, probably will again end up in the hands of Bulgarian businessmen.
A few days ago the government initiated the procedure to lease the Danube port Tutrakan to a private company. The concession period will be 35 years and in the terminal must be invested at least BGN1.797 million (BGN1.16 million of which in the first seven years). The prospective concessionaire will be required to provide services with a certain level of quality. Additionally the investor will have to provide a partial extension, reconstruction, rehabilitation or repair of the facility. Currently Tutrakan port has two berths, and at its eastern pier there is a separate area for loading and unloading with a length of 80 meters. Another berth is specialized for passenger transport, it is equipped with pontoons and its length is 30 meters.
In mid-September, the Official Gazette published ads for the concession of the biggest Passenger Port on the southern Black Sea – Nessebar and the second-largest port on the Danube for handling bulk cargo – Lom.
The future concessionaire of Nessebar port needs to invest at least BGN680 thousand in the first 10 years and another BGN18.2 million lev for the entire 35-year concession period. Choosing the winner of the competition will be done by a complex formula in which project investment will have 30% weight. Equally will weight the proposal for the fixed part of the annual concession fee and a 25 percent will be given to the variable part. The remaining 15 percent will be given to the business proposal.
Beyond doubt is that the port of Nessebar is very attractive to the resort status of the town. Last week, it harboured one of the biggest and most luxurious liners in the world – Queen Elizabeth with over 2,000 passengers on board. Apart from that, many yachts spend the winter there. The state invested BGN2 million to repair the breakwater pier and the quay wall] new flooring was placed and a new fence was installed. Years ago interest in the port showed banker Petya Slavova and now it is rumoured the facility has been eyed by businessman Cyril Domuschiev. In 2011 an affiliated company took 70% of the shares of Navibulgare against BGN440 million lev and later received a concession of the port of Burgas.
