Kazakhstan, Astana, August 19 / Trend K. Konyrova /
The first stage of a grain terminal's launch will take place at the Iranian port of Amirabad in late September, Director of the Economic Department of the Food Corporation JSC, Daulet Uvashev, told Trend correspondent in Astana.
"The grain terminal in the Iranian port of Amirabad will be able to receive 25,000 tons of Kazakh grain in late September," Uvashev said.
He said that after the second stage has been launched, the terminal will be able to receive up to 53,000 tons of grain.
"It was announced that the first batch consisting of 25,000 tons will be supplied to the Iranian port in late September. The volume of supplies will depend on Iranian demand and agreements which will be reached in the future," Uvashev said.
The Director of the department said that Kazakhstan will bring regular supplies of its grain to this terminal from October. He noted that Kazakh grain is exported from the sea port of Aktau to Baku and Amirabad.
The Food Corporation JSC together with the Iranian side - the Behdiz Company - has launched the construction of the grain terminal in the Iranian port of Amirabad on equal terms in 2007. Major works have been held during 2008 and 2009.
Uvashev said that the terminal is planned to be put into operation by late 2009. The terminal's capacity is 700,000 tons of grain per year.
"After the terminal in the Amirabad port has been put into operation, a transport-logistical line exporting grain to the Iranian market and Caucasian countries will have been created," the Food Corporation's representative said.
Answering questions from Trend , Uvashev confirmed that after the terminal in Amirabad has been launched grain will be supplied via Iran to neighboring Iraq. Iraqi demand for grain is 3.5 million tons per year.
"But it is more profitable and convenient to mill our grain and transport flour to Iran," he said.
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