Hungary’s plan to build a terminal at the Italian port of Trieste is under review by the Hungarian Ministry of Transport. The review was initiated by the recently appointed government, which will decide on the project once it is complete.
The project was transferred to the Hungarian Ministry of Transport, which is reviewing its financial, technical and commercial feasibility, according to Hungarian media outlet Telex. A ministry representative said that a decision can only be expected after the review is completed.
A terminal in Trieste would give landlocked Hungary access to one of Europe’s major ports. The plan is to redevelop the site of the former Aquila refinery, which closed in the 1980s, and build an intermodal rail terminal known as Adria Port.
The previous Orbán government planned to complete the terminal by 2028. In March, Adria Port and Gysev Cargo signed an agreement to operate a rail service between Trieste and Hungary. However, the new government wants to establish whether the project is financially and commercially viable.
While Hungary is responsible for developing the future terminal area, Italy is continuing work on the maritime side. Quay works are under way to prepare the site for larger vessels. The Trieste Port Authority is investing around €45m in the works. Hungary is expected to invest around €150m in land redevelopment and terminal construction.