ATHENS – The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Nathan today signed a financing agreement for a $125 million loan to ONEX Elefsis Shipyards and Industries (ONEX) to rehabilitate and modernize the Elefsina shipyard near Athens, Greece.
DFC financing will help create a strategically critical maritime and energy supply hub for the region by expanding the shipyard’s capacity to service liquified natural gas (LNG) ships, promoting European energy security and diversification, creating new local jobs, and bolstering the U.S.-Greece partnership through a transparent, high-quality investment.
“DFC’s investment in the Elefsina shipyard will develop a maritime and energy supply hub that will create good local jobs here in Greece and help the country and region become less reliant on Russian energy,” said DFC CEO Scott Nathan. “DFC is proud to advance this high-quality infrastructure project that will generate more reliable access to energy and foster greater economic growth and prosperity for our partners across the region.”
CEO Nathan joined Greek Minister of Development and Investment Kostas Skrekas and U.S. Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis at the shipyard for the signing ceremony. With DFC support, ONEX will expand the shipyard’s capacity to repair and upgrade ships, particularly ships that service the nearby Revithoussa LNG terminal. This will promote increased access to reliable, secure energy in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe by expanding high-quality infrastructure to support diversification of LNG supply for the region – a critical undertaking amid Russia’s attempts to destabilize regional energy access.
The shipyard is strategically located near several key gas trade routes. ONEX will use DFC financing to transform the shipyard into an energy supply hub supporting LNG shipping lanes in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas and supporting Greece’s renewable energy goals.
DFC’s investment is projected to expand the shipyard’s capacity to service up to 200 ships per year. In addition, the new facilities will include a 30MW solar farm to provide energy to the shipyard and to the local grid. The upgrades will include repurposing part of the shipbuilding infrastructure for the fabrication and assembly of wind turbines.
This investment advances President Biden's and the G7's commitment to strengthening global infrastructure through values-driven, high-standard, and transparent investments.
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The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and small business and financial services. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.