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Kazakhstan eyes increasing cargo transportation by sea

Transport Materials 21 April 2020 20:01 (UTC +04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 21

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Implementation of 112 infrastructure projects totaling 5.5 trillion tenge ($12.8 billion) is overseen within the framework of Nurly Zhol State Program for 2020-2025, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Beibut Atamkulov said, Trend reports with reference to the press office of Kazakhstan’s prime minister.

The Nurly Zhol State Infrastructure Development Program for 2020–2025 aims to create an efficient and competitive transport infrastructure, develop transit and transportation services, and improve technological and institutional environment.

“Construction and reconstruction of 10,000 km of roads, as well as major and medium repairs of 11,000 km of roads of the republican network in planned over the course of next six years within the framework of the program. The total funding for the road industry will amount to 3.5 trillion tenge ($8.5 billion),” the minister said.

Repairs of over 27,000 km of roads of the local network is planned by 2025, which will bring 95 percent of the roads of regional and district significance to satisfactory condition.

Atamkulov said that due to the coronavirus pandemic field of civil aviation suffered suspension of domestic (100 percent) and international (98 percent) flights.

But despite this, growth in passenger flow was still observed in 1Q2020. The number of passengers transported during the reporting period amounted to 1.7 million people, which is 5.2 percent more than the same period in 2019.

“This year we plan to put into operation a new international airport in Turkistan city and a new passenger terminal in Shymkent cuty. We will begin the reconstruction of the runway of Urjar city airport. In the case that funding is allocated, we will begin reconstruction of two more airport runways in Ust-Kamenogorsk and Usharal cities. Construction of 13 airfields is envisaged over the course of the next five years. Currently, three airfields belonging to local airlines operating in Kazakhstan,” he said.

Atamkulov expressed hope that the civil aviation field will soon return to normal operation, resume all flights and complete all planned tasks in the civil aviation industry.

“In general, according to forecasts of representatives of the civil aviation industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the loss of operating income in the industry may amount to about 300 billion tenge by the end of the year ($701.7 million),” Atamkulov said.

In the field of railway transport, depreciation of the main railway network is to be reduced to 49 percent and of locomotives to 58 percent by 2025.

“Purchase of 600 new passenger cars within next six years is planned. This year 50 wagons will be purchased, 20 billion tenge ($46.7 million) has already been allocated,” Atamkulov said.

He also noted that attraction of 657 billion tenge ($1.5 billion), including 455 billion tenge ($1.06 billion) of private investments is planned to be used for upgrading the rolling stock.

Constriction of four bus terminals, 6 bus stations and 33 passenger service points is planned in the field of road transport until 2025.

Currently the ministry is working to increase the share of domestic automobile freight carriers on the international market. Passenger traffic is to be increased by 2.5 percent in 2020 and cargo turnover by 1.5 percent compared to last year.

Purchase of 2 ferries and 4 dry cargo vessels, which will further increase the volume of cargo transportation is planned in the field of water transport until 2025,which will also increase the presence of the Kazakh fleet in the Caspian Sea to 35 percent.

Major repairs of shipping locks to reduce the accident rate to 10.3 percent and to increase the throughput capacity of locks to 350 vessels per year is also planned within the framework of the program.

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