BSF does not hinder investors - Sevastopol authorities

03.03.2010
Presence of Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol is not an obstacle for potential investors, reported Rosbalt referring to the city administration.

The article 'Black Sea Fleet: present and future' posted on Sevastopol news portal offers a suggestion that Indian businessman Lakshmi Mittal showed interest to buy Sevastopol port after withdrawal of Russian naval force. "Black Sea Fleet has no restraining impact on investors. If Mittal's companies decide to work in the city, that would not cause difficulties", said Vladimir Kazarin, Deputy Mayor of Sevastopol.

According to the official, many city harbors are currently idle. "That is not so much the matter of financial crisis as objective reasons – moorage walls need conversion. If Mittal's metallurgical companies come to the city, they would have to deal with construction of access ways. Current moorage walls have always had another purpose – maintenance of warships", explained the city official.

By the way, city administration has not received any proposals from Indian tycoon's envoys so far, said Mr. Kazarin.

We recall that the article was posted on Sevastopol news portal telling that to arrange transit of Russian and Kazakstan cargo [primarily, metal] through Crimean ports, Lakshmi Mittal is ready to pay three times as much as Russia pays for BSF.

At present, port capability of Sevastopol numbers 34 harbors and dozens kilometers of moorage walls. Most of them are idle due to rundown of BSF and submarginal conditions of Ukrainian Navy.

Lakshmi Mittal is Indian businessman, founder and owner of Mittal Group, sharer of world's largest metallurgical company Arcelor Mittal. In Ukraine he is proprietor of Krivorozhstal. In 2008 Forbes rated him as world's fourth richest person ($45 bln). In 2009 his bankroll reduced down to $19.3 bln, reported Forbes.

Source: Rosbalt, photo: Lakshmi Mittal (zeitgeist.org.ru)