Kazakhstan, Astana, Jan. 22 / Trend , K.Konirova/
Construction of Uzen-Gizilgaya-Bereket-Etrek-Gorgan railway line may delay for one and a half year, MP Zeynulla Alshimbaev addressing to the Kazakh Prime Minister.
"At present feasibility study of the project has been developed, as well as construction documents are being devised by means of the public budget and it is planned to be completed in mid-2009. However, despite the signed abovementioned documents, so far a financial source of the project has not been yet determined," Alshimbaev said.
He reminded that the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran inked a declaration to construct Uzen-Gizilgaya-Bereket-Etrek-Gorgan railway section in Tehran on Oct. 16 in 2007. Governments of three countries signed an agreement in Bereket on Dec. 1 in 2007 to implement the declaration. "The governmental bodies offer different versions of construction, including on concession base. In the case of realizing the project on concession base taking into consideration procedures of determining concessionaire set by the Kazakh government, October 2009 is a real term to begin construction and late 2012 - to finish it," the MP said.
In this case, failure of the fixed term to put into exploitation the section makes up almost one and a half year, he said.
"Turkmenistan began to build railway section in its territory in December 2007 and it is planned to finish the construction on a date fixed in the agreement. Length of the section in the Iranian territory makes up 70 km and Iran intends to launch the section on the agreed date. Therefore, possible failure of the term by Kazakhstan can damage prestige of the state at the international arena," Alshimbayev said.
He noted that the project is strategically important for Kazakhstan.
"Regarding term of end and simultaneously exploitation of all section set by agreement amongst Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran - December 2011, as well as using a moment when prices for materials drop, the project can be implemented by means of public budget or the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazina Joint Stock Company," the MP said.
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