CONSULTATION: 2 SITES (SITE A: APPROX. 8.5 HA) + (SITE B: APPROX. 5 HA), GESLECHT, JUNE 2011

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1 Please notice that candidates must submit their participation to this market consultation latest on the 5 th of August 2011 (please contact the Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever for requesting the questionnaire at paul.nelen@maatschappijlso.be) CONSULTATION: 2 SITES (SITE A: APPROX. 8.5 HA) + (SITE B: APPROX. 5 HA), GESLECHT, JUNE 2011 Among other things, the Scheldt Left Bank Corporation is charged with the acquisition of a number of company sites in the Waasland Port, and making them ready for building. The Waasland Port is the part of the seaport of Antwerp situated on the Left Bank of the Scheldt. With this leaflet the Scheldt Left Bank Corporation is formally launching a market consultation for 2 sites located at Geslecht, in the northern section of the Waasland Port: On the one hand, site A, with a size of approx. 8.4 ha, situated between Monument Chemical and Ineos Phenol Belgium; On the other hand, site B, with a size of approx. 6 ha, situated between the Liefkenshoek rail hub and Ploegweg, and cut by a railway curve with a level crossing in the north. On the basis of the incoming applications, company sites will be made available and concessions granted. Considering the Scheldt Left Bank Corporation is a public institution and therefore committed to the principles of good governance, the sites to be developed will be granted to interested private market parties via a market consultation. The Scheldt Left Bank Corporation management will fully observe the general legal rules governing public contracts, i.e. the imperatives of equal treatment, accountability, meticulousness and transparency, in selecting and assessing potential concessionaires. The Scheldt Left Bank Corporation has a free hand in granting or not granting concessions in the framework of this market consultation. For any loss or damage suffered as a result of not granting a concession or postponing the decision to grant a concession, the Corporation shall have no liability. ACTIVITIES Both available sites are suitable for both industrial and logistics activities (and combinations thereof). 1

2 Site A, with a surface area of approx. 8.4 ha, borders on Ineos Phenol Belgium N.V., on the one hand, and on Monument Chemical bvba, on the other. Both these companies are subject to the Seveso Directive. The included technical description of this site provides more information about this. As is clear from the technical description, site B, with a surface area of approx. 6 ha, is not immediately adjacent to a Seveso activity. It is, however, important to know that there is an easement for this site regarding an access road to the concessionaire on the south side, who is also the owner of this road and is entitled to request a verifiable compensation at cost price corresponding to half of the surface area of this road. FREE ENTERPRISE AND SUSTAINABILITY We seek to fully implement Europe s sustainability policy in the seaport area. Among other things, this means that space must be used sparingly. Moreover, potential concessionaires must provide evidence of the optimal operational use of the area. Concession agreements will include provisions concerning spatial performance (i.e. good use and organisation of the available space) aimed at furthering and evaluating the company s performance with respect to space. Other aspects of the sustainability policy are, among others, responsible energy consumption, maximum recycling, minimum emissions, protection of the natural environment, and the means of transport used. Site A borders on an area of natural beauty, Fort Liefkenshoek, and is part of the Natura 2000 network, a vast array of protected sites in Europe. Moreover, together with Natuurpunt and the Antwerp Port Authority, the Corporation has committed itself to the project de Antwerpse Haven natuurlijker ( a more natural port of Antwerp ) by incorporating ecological infrastructure into the Waasland port. Future concessionaires will be asked to take into account the measures taken in this context when organising their premises. We are trying to make this port more attractive and lively by taking into account the visual aspects of the infrastructural development as well. Architecture is important, and so is a strategy for greenery and outdoor space. Ambitions with regard to the above-mentioned principles will have to be made clear. In the framework of the development of renewable and sustainable energy in the port, the Scheldt Left Bank Corporation is involved in various initiatives together with (among others) the Antwerp Port Authority. One of these is the construction of a wind park with approx. 55 wind turbines. Furthermore, the Corporation gives support to solar energy projects, and it is 2

3 actively participating in a heat recovery project. In order for these projects to be successful, a large-scale, structured approach is necessary, which is why the Corporation reserves the right to reserve a small part of the surface area of the site for such a project if desirable. This will take place in close cooperation with the (potential) concessionaires, safeguarding the concessionaires activities at all times. If necessary, the surface area in question may be taken out of the concession agreement, with pro rata adjustment of the concession fee. In addition, it will be studied in what way the installation of sustainable energy could benefit the concessionaire. ACCESS Both sites are accessible by road via Geslecht and are located very near to the R2. Moreover, rail access to site A is possible as well. There is an area with pipes and connections running along Geslecht. CONCESSIONS The sites will be made available by granting concession agreements. A concession agreement is an administrative contract by which a natural or legal person is granted permission to make exclusive but temporary use of part of the public property for private purposes. By its nature, this permission is temporary and involves the payment of a fee. The duration of the concession shall be calculated on the basis of Article 4 of the Terms and Conditions for concessions in the Antwerp port area. The investments and the return on investment upon completion of these investments will be an important factor in determining the duration of the concession. The sum to be paid for a concession will be fixed on the basis of the project proposal. For your information only, the price for logistics activities within the port area for 2011 has been fixed at 3.12 euros/m²/year, whereas the rate for industrial service activities is 2.36 euros/m²/year. APPLICATION Please make use of the accompanying application form. A digital version is available by e- mail upon request. Sites will solely become available by the granting of concessions. They are subject to the customary terms and financial conditions of the Port of Antwerp. These are available upon request by . Special conditions may apply depending on the nature of the activities, the location, etc. 3

4 In addition to the sites offered via this consultation, which is specifically aimed at the sites located at Geslecht, you can also inform us of your wishes, stating reasons, referring to locations that may be better suited to your needs. Please submit your applications by mail and not later than 5 August It goes without saying that all information will be dealt with confidentially. ALLOCATION The Scheldt Left Bank Corporation takes into account all information that has been passed on to it before selecting the concessionaires. Economic, environmental and social criteria are important in assessing information. For that reason the Corporation might ask for additional information or clarification. Concessions will be assessed from time to time by the Corporation on the basis of that information. The concession will include provisions in this respect. The Corporation will see to it that the above-mentioned criteria are fully observed. Sites will be made available in the second half of ASSETS OF THE PORT OF ANTWERP The port of Antwerp is the gateway to Europe. In 2010 it handled million tonnes of freight, comprising million tonnes of container load or 8.5 million TEUs. When it comes to international maritime traffic Antwerp is the second port in Europe and the tenth-largest port worldwide. Its central position in north-eastern Europe makes Antwerp a much sought after location thanks to its excellent connections with the main European centres of industrial activity and consumption, turning this seaport into an important link in the chain of international trade. The share of the Left Bank in the global port traffic was 16% in This impressive performance was made possible by the hard work of 64,450 employees (13,280 of whom on the Left Bank) who are directly employed within the Antwerp port area. Furthermore, the port of Antwerp provides indirect employment to another 105,000 people. In recent years the port has experienced considerable growth. VARIOUS ACTIVITIES In 2010 maritime activities consisted of the following: 4

5 Antwerp port traffic 2010 tonnes of goods (in millions) 19,8 11,1 3, ,5 container roro conventioneel stukgoed droog massagoed vloeibaar massagoed Container ro-ro general cargo dry bulk liquid bulk Although container activities continue to expand, the port of Antwerp remains a key player when it comes to dry bulk, liquid bulk and general cargo as well. The Area Managers are also committed to maintaining a variety of activities. Consequently, the impact of important market fluctuations on port business is limited. Area Managers also bear this in mind when planning the Saeftinghe Development Zone. They attach great importance to the above- mentioned pillars: containers, logistics and industrial activities. The variety of activities in the port of Antwerp also results in easy access to a wide range of additional services. Benefits from cluster effects are available. Stiff competition within the port of Antwerp also facilitates cooperation with third parties at reasonable prices. PRODUCTIVITY As mentioned above the port of Antwerp owes much of its success to its 64,000 direct employees. They are well-known throughout the world for their productivity. The port s legendary productivity in the field of general cargo also extends to container handling: in Antwerp more containers are loaded and unloaded by the hour than elsewhere. Dockers in Antwerp receive specialised training to enable them to deal with the complexity and diversity of today s flows of goods. HINTERLAND (CONNECTIONS) With 60% of EU purchasing power within a radius of less than 500 km, the port of Antwerp is the main gateway to Europe and the European Union. It is located far inland, which is an advantage for investors given the rising costs of transport to and from the hinterland. In order 5

6 to make the best possible use of this unique location, the Area Managers, the Scheldt Left Bank Corporation and the Antwerp Port Authority are working together with private partners on a daily basis to improve the accessibility of the port. Recent partnerships with various national and international inland terminals testify to this commitment. The port of Antwerp also profits from the excellent transport infrastructure, enabling optimal access to major centres of production and consumption in the hinterland. CONNECTING THE PORT OF ANTWERP The port of Antwerp is an ideal multimodal transport hub. The transport infrastructure within the port is state-of-the-art; so is the transport infrastructure to the hinterland, by boat, road or railway. The enormous density of multimodal transport facilities enables optimal and efficient flows of goods. SEA ACCESS Recently, the new widening and deepening of the West Scheldt channel has been completed, allowing drafts up to metres during certain tides, or metres regardless of the tide. 6