Kazakh Transport Minister: Container hub to be built in Aktau port

Measures are being taken to increase cargo transportation through the seaports of Aktau and Kuryk to develop transportation in the Trans-Caspian direction, Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Marat Karabaev said at a roundtable on global investment on November 17.

According to him, the throughput capacity of seaports is about 21 million tons per year, Caliber.Az reports citing AKI press.

"Regular feeder lines have been opened between the port of Aktau and the Azerbaijani port of Baku and the Iranian port of Caspian," the minister added.

According to him, a container hub will be built in the port of Aktau. This project will increase the volume of transportation to an additional 300,000 TEU per year.

A grain terminal will be launched in Kuryk port this year.

"Together with Abu Dhabi port, the construction of the Sarzha multifunctional terminal is underway. The project involves the construction of a transport and logistics centre and grain, liquid and general cargo terminals," the minister noted.

The ports of Aktau and Kuryk will be dredged in 2024 to ensure sufficient depth for ships. These measures will increase the throughput capacity of Kazakhstan's ports to 30 million tons per year (+ 10 million tons).

The minister stressed the need to build Kazakhstan's own ferry fleet (10 units) and to increase the tanker fleet (there are 9 tankers in the country, and there is a need for 18 units).