Concessioon

Concessioon is a contractual arrangement used primarily in public administration and resource management, by which a government or public authority grants a private party the exclusive right to operate, maintain, and exploit a public service or natural resource within a defined geographic area and for a specified period. Ownership of the underlying asset usually remains with the state or public body, while the concessionaire gains the ability to generate revenue from the activity.

Key characteristics include exclusivity for the term of the agreement, defined service standards or performance obligations, and the obligation for the concessionaire to invest capital, undertake ongoing operating costs, and bear certain performance risks. In return, the public authority receives payments such as fees, royalties, or revenue shares, and retains oversight through regulation, auditing, and contract penalties. At the end of the concession period, rights typically revert to the state, unless renewal or transition arrangements are agreed.

Concessions are common in infrastructure and services, including toll roads, airports, ports, water and wastewater systems, electricity or gas distribution, and mining or other natural-resource rights. They are a form of public-private partnership but differ from full privatization in that ownership remains with the public sector and control is maintained through the contract and regulatory framework.

The term derives from Latin concessio, via French concession. In Dutch contexts the term is usually concessie; concessioon is encountered in some legal texts as a variant spelling.