Uzbekistan, Tashkent, July 10 / Trend D. Azizov /
Uzbekistan plans to implement a project on electrification of the railway Marokand-Karshi-Tashguzar-Baysun-Kumkurgan with length of 389 km in the south of Uzbekistan in 2010-2017, a source in "Uzbekistan Temir Yollari" (Uzbekistan Railways) said.
Uzbekistan Temir Yullari will finalize the feasibility study by late 2010. It will announce the tender to supply the electrical equipment and related materials used for the electrification of the area in early 2011, a message said.
The project with total preliminary cost of $531 million will be financed through Uzbekistan Temir Yollari's own funds to the amount of $317.6 million, international financial institutions - $163.4 million, the Uzbek Reconstruction and Development Fund's loan - $ 50 million.
"It is planned to realize the project to reduce fuel costs for transportation of cargoes from the southern regions of Uzbekistan to its central part," a message said.
Railway Tashguzar-Baysun-Kumkurgan worth $447 million was put into operation in August 2007. The road with length of 223 km linked two southern regions of the country - Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya bypassing the territory of Turkmenistan, reducing the former distance of passenger and freight transportation by 170 km.
The project was financed by a loan from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) amounting to $151.5 million, the state budget and Uzbekistan Temir Yollari.
It was reported that Uzbekistan is planning to invest $1.73 billion within an integrated program of development and modernization of the railway sector for the next five years.
It is planned to invest $1.019 billion in the development of the repair bases and rolling stock, $490.32 million - in the construction of new railway lines, their restoration and infrastructure, $223.9 million - in the electrification of railways.
The program is financed for"Uzbekistan Temir Yollari's own funds, the Uzbek Reconstruction and Development Fund's loans, as well as borrowed funds from international financial institutions.
According to forecasts, the program allows to increase turnover up to 31.65 billion ton-kilometers for one-third compared to 23.432 billion in 2008 (an increase of 35,1 percent), passenger traffic - up to 3.08 million passenger-kilometers from 2,491 (an increase of 23,6 percent). The export of services is planned to be increased up to 243.7 million compared to $ 182.9 million last year (an increase of 33,2 percent).
"Uzbekistan Temir Yollari" was founded in 1994 after leaving the Central Asian Railway. About 100 percent stake is owned by the state. The total length of railways in Uzbekistan is 4,100 km. About 66 percent of freight within the country and nearly 80 percent of export and import cargo fall to railway.
About 650 km is electrified in Uzbekistan with a total length of railways in 4,100 kilometers, of which more than 400 km - over the past six years. It is planned to electrify about 2,000 kilometers of railways. Uzbekistan will invest $1.73 billion in the development of the railways until 2014.