Discussions with European financial mechanisms, and in particular the European Investment Bank (EIB), are at an advanced stage, according to sources, in order to unlock the three major Public-Private Partnership (PPP) tenders regarding the construction of student housing at the Universities of Crete, Thrace and Thessaly.
According to sources, the EIB may cover part of the loan that will be taken by the concessionaires, while funds are sought from the new NSRF to cover the state’s participation.
Until the issue of funding is resolved, the three major projects, totaling more than 400 million euros, will remain frozen. On the largest contract, with a budget of 207 million euros for the University of Crete, seven groups had expressed interest. They are GEK TERNA, Aktor Concessions, Avax, Archirodon, Intrakat, Themeli and the Mytilineos-ATESE consortium.
Six groups passed on to the second phase, with the exception of Themeli. The project includes the design, construction and 30-year operation of 3,000 student bed complexes (2,000 on the French University Campus in Rethymnon and 1,000 in Heraklion) at the University of Crete.
The same investor schemes participate in the tender for the "implementation of student dormitories, educational, research and other infrastructure of the Democritus University of Thrace" PPP with a budget of 105.4 million euros. The object of this project is the study, financing, construction and technical management of student and other building facilities of the University in Alexandroupolis, Komotini and Xanthi. The duration of the contract is 28 years and the construction period is over 2 years.
The seven consortia had also participated in the PPP tender for the construction of student dormitories and other university facilities in Volos and Lamia, through a partnership promoted by the University of Thessaly. The contractor will undertake not only the construction of student dormitories in Lamia as well as other educational/research infrastructure.
It will also undertake the urban regeneration and utilization projects of an industrial real estate in Nea Ionia, Volos, for the creation of student dormitories, educational and research facilities, and social infrastructure. The estate, a former cotton plant, consists of a total of 20 buildings. It is expected that 13 will be demolished while seven will be maintained. Student dormitories, university departments, etc. will operate as listed buildings. A student dormitory will also be built in Lamia on a University property.
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