KKT S.A. (KKT) is a Polish, private operator of multimodal terminals for storage and transshipment of dry, liquid bulk cargo as well as containerized goods . Terminals are located in Kędzierzyn-Koźle.
KKT operations focuse on the management, expansion and development of the terminals and the port infrastructure.
The company’s management team with has an extensive experience in the implementation of large, multifunctional infrastructure projects on both local and international markets.
The sole owner of KKT (100% of shares in the Company) is Value Quest FIZAN (Closed-End Investment Fund), a Polish private equity fund specializing in capital investments in small and medium-sized enterprises across Poland. The fund’s capital comes from Polish private investors and institutional investors from theUS and Western Europe.
Construction of storage and transshipment terminals in Kędzierzyn-Koźle is a strategic element of the national plan for inland navigation development. This is also an important element of the development plan for logistic corridor on the Oder River, implemented by Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. With an area of over 20 ha and a quay-wall of over 3 km, the port on the Oder River and Gliwice Canal crossing is the largest facility of this type in Poland. In the 1960s and 1970s the port was the main national logistic center for north–south transport and also one of the largest and fastest-developing transshipment ports in Europe. It is hoped that the KKT’s project will restore the forgotten port to its prime function.
The location of the port at the intersection of the most important transport routes in the region is a huge advantage of the project, and this is recognized by the leading national and European companies producing and distributing industrial chemicals. The port is also surrounded by highly industrialized cities, with mining, energy, steel, automotive and chemical industries. KKT has an opportunity to become a new economic hallmark of Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Along with revival of inland waterway transportation, the project could become an accelerator for further large infrastructural projects, creating hundreds of new jobs and increasing economic attractiveness of the region.
Reactivation of the port in Koźle, giving it a second life, and restoration of the inland waterway transport on the Oder River.
Creating a modern, effective and stable company that will successfully develop the multimodal portin Kędzierzyn-Koźle utilizing the potential of inland waterway transport.
The history of the port in Koźle dates back to the end of the 18th century, when in the triangle of Tarnowskie Góry – Królewska Huta (currently Chorzów) – Gliwice, large deposits of coal and other minerals were discovered. This resulted in establishing numerous mines and metallurgical plants in this region. The demand by other regions for raw materials from Upper Silesia required the development of new transport routes.
The construction of the port in Koźle was the idea of Friedrich Wilhelm von Reden – the minister in the Prussian government, particularly distinguished for development of industry in Upper Silesia. He invented the construction of a waterway from Zabrze to Koźle, today known as the Kłodnica Canal, as well as the port in Koźle itself. In 1852, a record-breaking year, 100 000 tons of goods, mainly coal, iron ores and metallurgical products were transshipped to the port.
In the last decade of the 19th century, the location of the port was moved by half a kilometer. Shortly afterwards at the turn of the 20th century, three large port basins were built. The facility became a transshipment port closely related to the railway junction in Kędzierzyn, which also had its own railway station, and soon the port could serve 10 000 barges annually.
The importance of the port in Koźle began to decrease in 1939, when the Gliwice Canal was built parallel to the Kłodnica Canal. During World War II, the port systems were significantly damaged, however they were later rebuilt, and the port operation could start-up again.
After the war, when the port area became the property of the Polish State, coal was dispatched to Szczecin and Swedish iron ore was transported on the way back. In the first half of the 1980s, when the Oder River depth decreased significantly on its middle section, the port deteriorated and finally collapsed after the system transformation of 1989.
The river port in Kędzierzyn-Koźle was established in 1891–1908 and at the beginning of the 20th century was one of the largest inland ports in this part of Europe.
The first port basin, with a length of 500 meters and width of 50 m, was built in 1891–1895 during the Oder River channelization on the section from Koźle to the mouth of Nysa Kłodzka. The second basin, with dimensions of 600 × 55 m, was built in 1900–1903 in response to the rapidly growing transshipment volume. The third basin was developed in 1905–1908, with a length of 700 m and width of 60 m had become the largest one. The total length of transshipment quays in the port in Koźle was 3 185 meters. The port had railway connection and rail-car tipplers were installed for quick re-loading of coal.
In the first years of operation, the port was the key link for transshipment of goods from low-tonnage barges operating on the Kłodnica Canal to larger vessels sailing on the Oder River. Among others, the port in Koźle handled coal delivered from the Silesian mines.
In 1937–1938, the golden era of the port in Koźle in which loads of approximately 5 million tons were transshipped annually, at an impressive rate of up to 50 barges and 200 block trains per day.
Commencement of discussions with the authorities of Kędzierzyn-Koźle regarding the possibility of purchasing the port, that areas has been neglected for years. Modernized and state-of-the-art port is to be built, with new terminals for loading and transshipment of dry and liquid bulk cargo. The project is likely to become a new boost for the local economy.
In 2015 the KKT Company was established, responsible for comprehensive supervision and carrying out the investment in Kędzierzyn-Koźle.
Accomplishment of nearly 2 years of negotiations with the City of Kędzierzyn-Koźle resulting in a lease agreement of the port.
IN NOVEMBER: signing of the agreement, with the City of Kędzierzyn-Koźle. This comprises the lease of the port area with an option to purchase and concludes with an agreement allowing for the connection of the newly developed project to the regional road network, which will be used in the future to transport part of the cargo to new transshipment terminals. The arrangements (involving representatives from local government in Kędzierzyn-Koźle and the chemical industry, which lasted several years and ended successfully), gave the investor the green light to commence the project worth approximately PLN 400 million. The extension of the port is an opportunity for the entire region, which will ultimately allow for the establishment of 120 new jobs for the terminal operation and several hundred additional jobs in companies and administration bodies cooperating with the port.
IN DECEMBER: KKT commences preparations for the project implementation. One of the first tasks to be performed covered environmental and geotechnical surveys and stocktaking of the old and derelict port infrastructure.
In 2015, the first discussions with PKP SA began, relating to the comprehensive overhaul of access rail-tracks to the port in Koźle.
KKT completed the environmental and geotechnical tests and performed comprehensive feasibility studies regarding the renovation and overhaul of the quays. Part of the work was obtaining from German archives, the documentation of the port construction from the turn of the 19th and 20th century materials.
IN MAY: the agreement for the lease of port area became effective. KKT commenced the procedure for selecting the design engineers and the EPC contractor, who would build the three planned terminals: Liquid Bulk, Dry Bulk, General Cargo and Container Terminals.
IN JULY: KKT signed an agreement with the selected EPC contractor, who would design and build the first of the three terminals – the Liquid Bulk Product Terminal. The process, of obtaining administrative decisions and consents necessary for commencement of construction works, being in progress.
IN AUGUST: the design works related to overhaul of quay-wall no. III commenced.
Discussions and negotiations with PKP SA concerning the project of connection of Koźle Port to the railway network were in progress.
APRIL TO AUGUST: ongoing construction works related to overhaul of the quay-wall at basin no. III.
IN JUNE: KKT purchased the port area following the fulfilment of all conditions of the agreement with the City of Kędzierzyn-Koźle.
JULY TO SEPTEMBER: the Regional Environmental Protection Director issued the environmental decision for the Liquid Bulk Product Terminal, and the company also obtained the building permit.
IN SEPTEMBER in a written declaration PKP SA accepted the content and terms and conditions of the lease agreement and overhaul of the access tracks to the port. It also informed KKT that it would be possible to sign the agreement following final approval of the project assumptions by the Management Board of PKP SA.
IN NOVEMBER: KKT handed over the construction site to KB Pomorze – the EPC contractor. Construction works related to the first terminal started in accordance with the assumed schedule.
IN DECEMBER: KKT finished the design and activities related to preparing the development plan for the Container Terminal. The procedure for obtaining the necessary environmental decision for the Container Terminal began.
Further negotiations with PKP SA related to the terminal connection with the railway network.
IN MARCH: KKT and PKP PLK SA signed an agreement for the lease of 2 km long access rail-tracks section to the Liquid Bulk Products Terminal. Simultaneously, KKT received from PKP SA a declaration concerning withdrawal from further negotiations related to the remaining 500 m of rail-tracks.
IN JULY: due to the lack of final agreement with PKP SA related to the lease of the last 500-m track section necessary for the project operation, KKT suspended the ongoing construction of the Liquid Bulk Products Terminal.
IN OCTOBER: the environmental decision for the Container Terminal became final and legally binding .
KKT submitted appeals and letters requesting the justification of withdrawal from signing the agreement by PKP SA. Until October 2019, the company did not receive any substantive reply from both PKP SA and the Ministry of Infrastructure.
In 2019, the company was completely devoted to the grapple with operations commencement of the Liquid Bulk Products Terminal.
IN APRIL: PKP PLK SA terminated the agreement for the lease of the access rail-tracks, without stating any reason, and thus the port in Koźle was completely cut off from the railway network.
KKT submitted a request to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection concerning the initiation of antitrust proceedings for the conclusion of an agreement by PKP SA and PKP PLK SA, which may be aimed at application of competition restricting practices, by limiting the access of KKT to the market of logistic operator services.
KKT received a reply from the Ministry of Investment and Development, in which the Ministry of Investment and Development requests the Ministry of Infrastructure, as the authority exercising owner’s supervision over the companies of PKP Group, to explain the reasons for changing the decision of PKP SA and PKP PLK SA concerning the port connection to the railway network.
KKT requested the Ministry of Investment and Development to consider the situation of the company and to take action aimed at removing the obstacles that KKT encounters due to the port connection to the railway network.
KKT again requested intervention by the Prime Minister in connection with the situation of the company’s project in the port in Kędzierzyn-Koźle.
KKT received a reply from the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation indicating that the Ministry supports all initiatives aimed at extension of the TEN-T to include Polish waterways and inland ports.
KKT received a letter from the Ministry of Infrastructure (in reply to the letter of April 30, 2019), informing that works related to the assessment of impact of the port in Kędzierzyn-Koźle connection with the railway line on the railway system in Poland are in progress.
KKT submitted a request to the Minister of State and the Government Plenipotentiary for Counteracting Communication Exclusion to take actions aimed at counteracting communication exclusion of KKT.
KKT requested Jerzy Polaczek, the Chairman of the Sejm Infrastructure Committee, to examine the KKT situation and to take actions aimed at removal of obstacles preventing the port connection with the railway infrastructure.
KKT requested the Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation to support the operations of the European Federation of Inland Ports aimed at including the port in Kędzierzyn-Koźle in the TEN-T.
KKT received a letter from the Office of Rail Transport, informing that the Minister of Infrastructure is the authority competent to examine the request of April 2, 2019, related to ensuring the handover of the rail infrastructure of PKP SA to PKP PLK SA.
KKT received from PKP PLK SA a letter terminating the agreement for the lease of land, tracks and turnouts of March 14, 2018. PKP PLK SA did not provide reasons for termination of the agreement.
KKT submitted a request to the President of the Office of Rail Transport for ensuring the handover of the railway infrastructure owned by PKP SA to PKP PLK SA, enabling the port connection with the railway network by PKP PLK SA.
KKT received a reply from the Strategy Office of PKP PLK SA with the information that PKP SA is the company competent to solve the issue, therefore PKP PLK SA is not able to effectively support the initiative to reconstruct the port connection with the railway network.
KKT requested the President of PKP PLK SA to provide support for the port connection with the railway infrastructure.
KKT requested Adam Lipiński, the Minister of State in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, to meet and engage in the case of PKP SA preventing the continuation of reconstruction of the port in Kędzierzyn-Koźle.
KKT requested the Head of the Internal Security Agency to meet in order to explain the alleged ambiguities and doubts related to KKT and its parent entity.
KKT received a letter from the Ministry of Infrastructure, informing that the decisions of the Management Board of PKP SA are beyond the control of the Minister of Infrastructure and that it does not have administrative measures to issue instructions binding on PKP SA. In addition, the Minister of Infrastructure announced that PKP SA conducts “reconnaissance of the business project for its own involvement on a network scale, and the ultimate involvement of PKP SA will be possible after the preparation of feasibility studies”.
KKT again requested PKP SA to make available the railway infrastructure to ensure the port connection, referring to the rail transport act, position of the President of the Office of Rail Transport of July 2017 and Regulation (EU) 1315/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 13, 2013 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network.
KKT received a copy of the reply of the Minister of Infrastructure to the Prime Minister, informing that the decisions of the Management Board of PKP SA are beyond the control of the Minister of Infrastructure and that it does not have administrative measures to issue instructions binding on PKP SA.
KKT received a copy of the letter of the Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, addressed to the Minister of Infrastructure, requesting the reply to the letter of KKT addressed to the Prime Minister on August 13, 2019.
Due to the lack of reply from PKP SA, KKT requested the Supervisory Board of PKP SA to involve PKP Group in the port connection to the railway infrastructure.
Due to the lack of reply from PKP SA, KKT requested the Prime Minister to involve PKP Group in the port connection to the railway infrastructure.
KKT again requested PKP SA (Oddział Gospodarowania Nieruchomościami we Wrocławiu [Real Property Management Department in Wrocław]), to lease the land, tracks and turnouts at a section of approximately 500 m between the port boundary and the area leased from PKP PLK SA.
KKT signed with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego a credit facility agreement for financing the construction of the Liquid Bulk Product Terminal.
KKT requested the Management Board of PKP SA for the right of rail passage through the real property owned by PKP SA on a section of approximately 500 m between the port boundary and the area leased from PKP PLK SA.
KKT received from PKP SA a declaration on withdrawal from the negotiations concerning the lease of the real property intended for the port connection with the railway network. PKP SA did not provide reasons for the decision.
KKT concluded with PKP PLK SA an agreement for the lease of land, tracks and turnouts on part of the section between the port and the operating railway siding.
In the Energy Regulatory Office, KKT obtained a promise of a license for storage of liquid fuels.
KKT commenced construction works in the port area.
KKT obtained the building permit for the Liquid Bulk Products Terminal issued by the Kędzierzyn-Koźle Staroste.
KKT signed with the Governor of the Opolskie Voivodeship the Oder River Declaration on the development of river transport in Poland.
KKT completed the overhaul of the port quay-walls at basin no. III.
KKT obtained the final environmental decision issued by the Regional Environmental Protection Director in Opole.
KKT signed with the Kędzierzyn-Koźle Industrial Park the agreement for the purchase of the port area in Kędzierzyn-Koźle.
KKT officially commenced negotiations with PKP SA aimed at the port connection with the railway infrastructure.
KKT obtained the decision of the Marshal of the Opolskie Voivodeship, approving the hydrogeological documentation for the Liquid Bulk Product Terminal.
KKT obtained the decision of the Kędzierzyn-Koźle Staroste, approving the geoengineering documentation of the Liquid Bulk Product Terminal.
KKT concluded an agreement with KB Pomorze – the EPC contractor – for the construction of the Liquid Bulk Products Terminal in the port area.
KKT obtained the decision approving the design of geological works issued by the Marshal of Opolskie Voivodeship.
KKT signed with the Kędzierzyn-Koźle Industrial Park the lease agreement and the preliminary purchase agreement for the port area in Kędzierzyn-Koźle.