Israel to Privatize Port of Haifa

6 Фев

После двухлетних обсуждений Правительство Израиля одобрило план приватизации порта Хайфа, направленный на привлечение инвестиций и усиление конкуренции. Победитель торгов должен инвестировать минимум 290 миллионов долларов США, в том числе не менее 115 миллионов долларов – в инфраструктуру. Рабочие порта получат приватизационный бонус, а часть оставшегося финансирования будет использована для компенсации за увольнение работников по сокращению штатов примерно с 200 должностей. «Это исторический момент, который наступает после двух лет интенсивной работы и долгосрочного стратегического процесса, целью которого является обеспечение процветания Хайфы в конкурентной среде», – сказал Эшель Армони (Eshel Armony), председатель компании порта. Торги относительно контроля над портом Хайфы вызовут интерес у Китая, в частности, у Шанхайской международной портовой группы (Shanghai International Port Group – SIPG). Заинтересованность SIPG привлекла к себе пристальное внимание американских военных чиновников, которые (например: адмирал Гэри Рогхед – Gary Roughead) выразили опасения, что она обеспечит плацдарм для операций китайской разведки в районе военно-морской базы в Хайфе.

After two years of deliberations, the government of Israel has approved a plan to privatize the Port of Haifa in a bid to attract new investment and increase competition. Haifa, located near Israel’s northern border, is the nation’s largest and busiest seaport.

The sale will be completed by 2022, and the lease will last through 2054. The winning bidder must agree to make a minimum investment of $290 million, including at least $115 million for infrastructure investments. Workers at the port will receive a privatization bonus, and a portion of the remaining funding will be used for layoff compensation for about 200 positions.

“This is an historic moment that comes after two years of intensive work and a long-term strategic process, the purpose of which is to enable Haifa Port to flourish in a competitive environment,” said Eshel Armony, chairman of Haifa Port. “We must work to implement the privatization and identify buyers who will drive Haifa Port forward in the coming decades.”

The auction for control of Haifa Port is widely expected to attract Chinese interest, as it would have synergies with a nearby Chinese-run container terminal. Last year, Israel awarded Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) a 25-year concession to operate Haifa’s new Bay Terminal, and it will take over operations in 2021. The award for SIPG drew considerable scrutiny from American defense officials, who raised concerns that it would provide a staging ground for Chinese intelligence operations near to Haifa’s naval base.

In 2019, ex-chief of naval operations Adm. Gary Roughead (USN, ret’d) warned of the counterintelligence risks at Haifa after SIPG takes over. “The Chinese port operators will be able to monitor closely U.S. ship movements, be aware of maintenance activity and could have access to equipment moving to and from repair sites and interact freely with our crews over protracted periods,” Adm. Roughead reportedly said at a conference at the University of Haifa. “Significantly, the information systems and new infrastructure integral to the ports and the likelihood of information and electronic surveillance systems jeopardize U.S. information and cybersecurity.”

Источник: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/israel-to-privatize-port-of-haifa