After Piraeus, Chinese now look to make over Elefsina port in Greece

ATHENS – With the Chinese company Cosco taking over the port of Piraeus in one of the biggest privatizations in Greece, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is looking at investing in the port of Elefsina, west of the capital.

Prime Minister and Radical Left SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, who vowed to halt the sale of state assets before pushing them on orders of the country’s international lenders, is especially eager to get them in the hands of Chinese companies.

NRDC and Greek officials are now discussing making over Elefsina as Cosco did with the port of Piraeus and to accelerate infrastructure development, particularly upgrading of a rail link “so as to release the potential” there, said Kathimerini.

Greek port sector officials have known of China’s interest and, unlike in Piraeus where there was staunch initial resistance from workers and unions, research has been underway around Elefsina for some time, particularly related to dry-bulk cargo, an area in which Piraeus Port Authority does not currently have a presence.

Ironically, the Greek shipping industry, the world’s largest, has significant holdings in dry bulk carriers. The prospective plans for Elefsina include expanding shipbuilding and the repair industry, a major specialty in China.

While some elements in SYRIZA don’t want any foreign investors, Tsipras is trying to speed the sell-off of state assets he said were being sold at fire sale prices by previous governments he criticized for doing so before doing the same.

The state’s privatization agency, TAIPED, is looking at getting rid of 10 regional ports and hiring consultants to push them, while NRDC’s Vice-President visited Athens last month to talk about increasing ties.