Kazakhstan Railways intends to proceed with the construction of the ferry complex in Kuryk village (Mangistau region) on the basis of the feasibility study in order to significantly increase the transportation of goods to other ferry complexes in the ports of Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Iran.
Currently, the ferry transportations are implemented from the port of Aktau, but the facilities of the ferry port complex have exhausted the potential for further expansion and growth, a KTZ report says.
For the construction of a ferry crossing in Kuryk settlement, near Aktau, Kazakhstan will require investments worth over 16 billion tenge (USD 88.4 million), Vice President for Logistics at Kazakhstan Railways, Kanat Alpysbayev believes.
“At present, we have a single berth in Aktau, which ensures a ferry crossing,” Alpysbayev said. “But this ferry crossing mainly processes oil cargo. Thus, the national railway company is to design the investment plans with their implementation due to begin in 2015.”
The need to build a new modern ferry complex is due to the expected increase in traffic in connection with the increased transit potential of Kazakhstan and the upcoming shortage of ferry transshipment facilities in the region.
Kuryk village is located on the Bekovich-Cherkassky bay, which is the most convenient place for the construction of the ferry complex taking into account the existing depths and lack of ice cover in the autumn-winter period.
“The construction of the ferry complex for sending ferries is necessary in order to complete the circuit of railways and roads, coming from Europe to China and the Far East via the Caucasus and Central Asia,” KTZ report informs.
Kazakhstan approved an infrastructure development plan to be developed in the period 2014-2020. In fact, this is the first large-scale plan adopted by Kazakhstan and aimed at developing the transport infrastructure and its integration in the global transport system. The plan is partially developed with the help of World Bank being previously approved by all agencies and local and state associations in Kazakhstan.
The changes expected in the railway transport sector are most probably focused on completing a logistics hub statute in the Eurasian Platform.
Thus, the Zhezkazgan – Beineu and Arkalyk – Shubarkol lines are currently under construction. In addition, the line between the Zhetygen station and Kazybek station, which bypasses Almaty, will be built from 2015 to 2017 through a public-private partnership.
Moreover, the recently inaugurated Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Iran railway corridor will facilitate freight transport from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf and its launch would reduce the route of freight transport between the two regions by over 600 km. The corridor will be the most important international connection between China and Europe.
by Elena Ilie
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