GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA INVESTS $100M IN ANAKLIA DEEP SEA PORT PROJECT
Anaklia Development Consortium Selects Van Oord as Marine Works Contractor as Project Officially Breaks Ground
ANAKLIA, GEORGIA – October 3rd, 2016 – The Government of Georgia signed an agreement today that grants the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) the exclusive right to construct, develop and operate the $2.5 billion Anaklia Deep Sea Port, which will help establish a new maritime corridor from China to Europe. As part of the agreement, the Government will invest $100 million in the construction and development of railway and transportation links connecting the port to the region.
The ADC also signed today a contract with one of the largest maritime engineering companies, Van Oord, to conduct pre-construction works. The Dutch company Van Oord has executed dredging, marine engineering and offshore projects across the world, including the New Suez Canal, the construction of Palm Island in Dubai and the construction of Maasvlakte 2, a major extension of the Port of Rotterdam.
“Today’s agreement signifies a major commitment by the Government of Georgia, who have been instrumental supporters of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port from Day One,” said Mamuka Khazaradze, Co-founder of the Anaklia Development Consortium. “The Government’s $100 million investment represents an incredible statement of confidence in a project that has the potential to transform Anaklia and generate decades of new prosperity and opportunity for Georgia and its neighbours. And with experienced partners like Van Oord also on board, we are confident of bringing the project to a very successful completion.”
Today’s signing ceremony at the site of the future port was attended by Georgia Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Vice Prime Minister Dimitri Kumsishvili, Anaklia Development Consortium Co-Founders Mamuka Khazaradze and Kurt Conti, and Van Oord Area Director Govert Van Oord.
The Anaklia Deep Sea Port is expected to be operational by 2020. Thousands of workers will be employed during the nine phases of port construction and development, and the ADC is opening a training center to ensure a large percentage of those workers come from the local community.
In parallel with the port construction, Anaklia Development Consortium has committed to build in Anaklia a facility for kindergarten classes, an ambulatory center, a business center, and mini soccer and volleyball fields as well as repair a local municipality administrative building.
About Anaklia Deep Sea Port
- Anaklia Deep Sea Port will be constructed on about 400 hectares of land;
- The Georgia Government granted the Anaklia Development Consortium exclusive and irrevocable rights to use this land for a period of 52 years;
- The depth and infrastructure of the port will provide accessibility to Panamax and Post-Panamax that cannot be served by any other port in Georgia;
- After completion of all phases, the port will have capacity to serve 100 million tons of freight turnover;
- Completion of the first phase and the opening of the port is scheduled by 2020;
- The investment value of the first phase equals $590 million;
- Upon completion of the first phase and the opening, the port will have two entry container terminals that will be able to receive and transport containers from 700,000 to 800,000 TEUs;
- The port will serve as the main gateway for imports for approximately 17 million inhabitants of landlocked Caucus and Central Asian countries, and provide key supply routes for 146 million people living within the Port’s immediate region.
About the Anaklia Development Consortium (or “ADC”)
The ADC is a consortium of TBC Holding from Georgia and Conti International from the United States. TBC Holding was founded by Mamuka Khazaradze who also is the Founder and Chairman of TBC Bank. Conti International is a major developer of infrastructure and capital projects. In February 2016 Anaklia Development Consortium was announced the winner of a government tender to construct and develop the Anaklia Deep Sea Port.
About Van Oord
Van Oord is a leading international contractor specializing in dredging, marine engineering and offshore projects (oil, gas and wind). Its head office is located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The company’s expertise ranges from design to execution and it has been involved in such noteworthy projects as the Port of Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte 2 expansion and the construction of the second Suez Canal, trench dredging and backfilling of pipelines worldwide, and the construction of several offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Van Oord is an independent family business and employs about 5,000 professionals worldwide. Its modern fleet consists of more than a hundred vessels and other specialized equipment.