December 14 2004, 09:58

New railway line opened in Kazakhstan will reduce transport cost of grain exports

Thanks to commissioning of railway line Altynsarin-Khromtau, in the year 2005 transportation of grain crops, destined to the Caspian port Aktau, and further to the markets of Caucasian countries, Iran and other destinations will step up significantly. Such an agreement was reached between the management of Joint Stock Company "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" (Kazakhstan's Railway), local agricultural authorities and grain trading companies at a meeting in the Caspian coastal town of Aktau, www.gazeta.kz has informed.

Director of grain terminal in Aktau port Rafael Galiamov said that a contact had already been signed with Azerbaijan was supply of 100,000 tonnes of Kazakh grain to this country until May 1, 2005. A grain supply deal with Iran is being also elaborated.

Glayamov said that thanks to the new railway line and reduction of the transport cost of Kazakhstan's grain, the consumers would not only buy more grain in the country, but would invest funds in local agricultural sector.

According to the Head of Corporate Development Department of "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" Bolatbek Duysemaliev, with putting into operation of the new railway line, the transportation cost of a tonne of grain from northern regions of the country to Aktau port has been reduced from $35-36 to $12-14.