- The project will involve the construction of a new multi-purpose maritime terminal, the electrification of all port terminals, a new border control building, and the installation of new security equipment for the passenger terminal.
- This major operation will increase the port’s capacity and make it safer and more efficient. The Port of Málaga is key for the Mediterranean Corridor, part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
- This project is part of the EIB Group’s efforts to promote more sustainable transport options. It also contributes to the Group’s strategic priorities by consolidating its position as the Climate Bank and strengthening cohesion in the European Union.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed an €50 million loan with the Port Authority of Málaga to finance the expansion and electrification of the Port of Málaga. This project highlights maritime transport as an alternative to other more carbon-intensive modes of transport. With this loan, the EIB is also helping to make maritime transport more sustainable and efficient.
The EIB loan will make it possible to invest in the construction of a new multi-use maritime terminal, and in the electrification of all port terminals to supply electricity to docked ships. It will also enable investment in a new border control building and equipment to improve security in the passenger terminal.
This is an ambitious project to expand and modernise infrastructure, which will increase the Port of Málaga’s capacity and make it safer and more efficient. Once completed, the project is expected to turn the port into a sustainable intermodal hub connecting Europe and Africa, bolstering the capacity of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), and in particular the Mediterranean Corridor.
“This financing operation will enable the Port Authority of Málaga to make the necessary investments to expand the port’s infrastructure and services, making it safer and more sustainable, while also strengthening its strategic position on the Mediterranean Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network. This loan reflects the EIB’s commitment to making maritime transport more sustainable and efficient, which contributes to climate action, one of the Bank’s strategic priorities,” said Director of Public Sector Lending in the European Union Gilles Badot.
President of the Port Authority of Málaga Carlos Rubio Basabe said that “following the EIB experts’ exhaustive analysis of the Port Authority’s accounts, and also of its future activity and income projections, their decision demonstrates that there is full confidence in the future of the Port of Málaga, which has led to the signing of this important financing operation, which involves a significant sum and very favourable conditions for the Port of Málaga. Thanks to this we will be able to undertake our important and ambitious investment plan for the next four years.”
The project is part of the EIB Group’s action to promote more sustainable transport and supports its strategic priority to direct at least half of its annual financing to climate action and environmental sustainability, thereby consolidating its position as the climate bank. All of the investment will be made in Andalusia, a region where per capita income is below the EU average. This means that the operation will also help to bolster economic, social and territorial cohesion in the European Union. Climate action and strengthening cohesion are two of the eight strategic priorities set out in the Group’s Strategic Roadmap for 2024-2027.
The EIB and sustainable transport
The EIB finances projects that drive greener, safer and more accessible transport, in line with its Transport Lending Policy, updated in 2022 following the adoption of the Climate Bank Roadmap and the European Green Deal. This policy sets the investment priorities needed to surmount the challenges facing the transport sector, and those most apt to power the shift to a more sustainable model. Sustainable transport is based on four interdependent pillars: It must be safe, accessible, green and efficient.
Find out more about the EIB’s support for the transport sector here.
Background information
EIB
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by the Member States. Built around eight core priorities, it finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024, helping power the country’s green and digital transition and promote economic growth, competitiveness and better services for its people.
High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.
About the Port Authority of Málaga
The Port of Málaga is a strategic point in southern Europe, linking the Atlantic-Mediterranean routes and the north-south axis. Its proximity to the Strait of Gibraltar and the diversification of its traffic present an opportunity for businesses in the city and in the province, also serving as a gateway to the rest of Andalusia. The port’s docking areas span over 7 000 linear metres and can accommodate all kinds of traffic. This includes domestic and cruise ship passengers, general goods, containers and vehicles, liquid and solid bulk, Ro/Ro traffic, and nautical sports and fishing.
In addition, the areas available to the public are a good example of port-city integration. They receive over 10 million visits every year and bring together entertainment, culture, gastronomy and Málaga’s businesses, located only a five-minute walk from the city’s historical centre.