AKTOR Group and ONEX Group have formed a strategic alliance to bid for the commercial concession of Elefsina Port, aiming to turn it into a regional transport and LNG hub that would help reduce reliance on Russian supply routes.
The announcement came Monday at the Blue Strategy Summit 2026, where Alexandros Exarchou, Mr. Exarchou, chairman and CEO of AKTOR Group and head of Atlantic SEE LNG Trade, appeared alongside Panos Xenokostas, Mr. Xenokostas, chairman of ONEX Group.
Mr. Exarchou said shifting geopolitics, including the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, have made it necessary for Greece to diversify beyond Piraeus, the country’s main port. He said Elefsina’s road links and available space make it well suited to serve as a logistics base for Southeast Europe’s Vertical Energy Corridor.
Under the plan, AKTOR would handle construction and logistics infrastructure, while ONEX would oversee maritime operations.
The companies said the project is supported by long-term contracts with Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina to distribute U.S. LNG across the Balkans.
Mr. Exarchou said additional memorandums of understanding with regional buyers are expected to be converted into binding agreements by this summer.
The partners also said the concession model could help attract bank financing because of predictable revenue streams.
The bid is backed by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and is being positioned as part of a wider effort to build alternative Western trade routes, including the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, while countering Chinese-linked infrastructure in the region.
The companies did not give a timeline for when the concession process could be completed.