While APM Terminals Poti continues waiting for a government green light to begin construction of a new deep-water port, the company has launched interim expansion measures to keep up with growing cargo volumes. According to Zviad Chkhartishvili, head of the port’s administration, studies for dredging the existing port channel have already begun and are expected to be completed in the first half of the year.
“We are in the research phase and cooperating with all relevant agencies. Our goal is to increase throughput within the boundaries of the existing port. The new port project has been delayed for too long, so we must face reality and expand capacity where we can,” Chkhartishvili said.
He emphasized that these steps are temporary, taken only because approval for the new terminal has been pending for more than two years. “We cannot be in a constant waiting mode. Even if we implement small upgrades, the design of the current port is outdated - it was built in the early 20th century. Georgia needs a modern hub that can serve the Caucasus and Central Asia. For that, a new port is essential,” he added.
The company’s long-term vision remains the construction of a completely new terminal. However, to handle current cargo flows, APM Terminals must find additional capacity within existing infrastructure. The $300 million expansion project has been under discussion between the company and the Georgian government since 2018, but the matter remains unresolved.
