The defence must be significantly strengthened, and green energy must be expanded on a historically large scale. This creates a need for a massive expansion of Danish ports and related infrastructure, as pointed out by the Minister of Business, Morten Bødskov (S).
Now, a representative of a potential group of investors has come forward with a proposal to invest up to 35 billion to establish seven strategically designated "super ports", which could be the focal point for Denmark's green transition, military strengthening, and growth opportunities for businesses.
The proposal is backed by the organisation Forsikring & Pension, which points to the ports in Nakskov and Rødbyhavn as two of the seven super ports.
"The expansion of Danish ports should support the strengthening, ensure Denmark's continued role as a leading maritime nation, and strengthen the green transition both in the installation of offshore wind and create good conditions for power-to-x facilities and carbon capture and storage/carbon capture and utilization. At the same time, billion-dollar investments in the expansion of the ports can ensure growth and development in the Danish rural areas and generally strengthen Danish business," writes Forsikring & Pension in its proposal.
Can invest billions
Forsikring & Pension is a trade organisation for the country's insurance and pension companies, and it is precisely the pension companies that manage enormous fortunes, which can, among other things, be invested in infrastructure. Already today, the pension industry is investing in, for example, Fredericia Port and Esbjerg Port.
Strategy for Commercial Ports on the Way
In the government's foundation Responsibility for Denmark, it appears that the government will develop a strategy for Danish commercial ports, which provides a basis for securing commercial investments.
The government therefore established a Port Partnership to look more closely at what transformation needs the commercial ports face and how the development of the commercial ports can be supported.
The partnership submitted its recommendations to the government in August 2024. The recommendations are to form the basis for the government's upcoming strategy.
There are also large amounts needed if the idea of the seven superports is to be realised. Insurance & Pension thus assesses that there is an investment need of a double-digit billion amount for the expansion.
"With the right framework conditions for the establishment and development of the ports, pension companies can help deliver the necessary investments. However, it requires that the investment frameworks are attractive when Danes' savings are invested," the proposal states.
Start in Rødbyhavn
In Lolland Municipality, Mayor Holger Schou Rasmussen positively welcomes the proposal - and urges the government to start with Rødbyhavn.
- It would be appropriate to start with their own superport. They have one in Rødbyhavn, so you can start there. And when it is fully established with the demand that exists, and the capacity that is needed, then you can gradually expand if more is needed, he believes.
It would be appropriate to start with their own super port. They have one in Rødbyhavn.
Holger Schou Rasmussen (S), Mayor, Lolland Municipality
Holger Schou Rasmussen adds that Rødbyhavn has a great advantage.
- We also have a couple of superports in Lindø and Aarhus, but the question is whether you can expand there? The expansion in Aarhus fell through due to citizen protests. But in Rødbyhavn, you have both the local politicians and - as I sense it - also the population on board.
Preferably State-Guaranteed Loans
However, he is more lukewarm about the idea of letting pension companies invest in the expansion of the ports, as they would need to profit from their investment.
- They obviously have an ulterior motive here, as they want a return. Over the past many years, pension companies have invested with a return of between 3 and 10 percent, depending on the stock market. And if you start doing it with this, there will be a real overhead, he notes.
Therefore, he would prefer the state to finance the expansion of the ports itself.
- It is the state that should step in with state-guaranteed loans and self-finance. Then it is in state hands, and they can borrow the money at almost one percent, so you don't have to add an overhead of five percent, he says, adding that it is commendable that pension companies want to invest in Denmark.
Six Recommendations
Insurance & Pension's proposal for seven "super ports" is accompanied by six recommendations:
• That the government presents a long-term strategic plan for the expansion of Danish ports.
• That the establishment of the Super Ports is included in the broad political agreement on "Red Carpet for Manufacturing Companies" so that the super ports can be established quickly and efficiently to support, among other things, industrial companies.
• That an inter-ministerial working group is established with a focus on infrastructure and security projects.
• That financing models are developed for the expansion of the ports with a view to realising the investment potential of up to 35 billion kroner, which Insurance & Pension estimates on behalf of the pension sector, provided that good investment frameworks are established.
• That the tenders are broken down into smaller parts so that a single operator does not have to be responsible for the entire investment, but that operators can instead bid on the tasks where they have experience and expertise. By dividing, it can be achieved that it opens up for more investors and actors to participate and thus also that the ports have more investors to choose from. Economies of scale can be achieved if the experience with the expansion of the individual parts is used across the ports.
• That the financing models and frameworks for the tender can include public-private partnerships or similar constructions, so that as a society we get more construction and quality for the money.
