Kazakhstan to invest in sea transport

The sea transport programme is aimed at developing the country’s trade fleet, ports infrastructure and services, together with a ship control system and sea rescue facilities. It has two stages, the first to be implemented by 2008 and the second from 2009-12.

The first stage includes the ongoing expansion of Aktau seaport on the Caspian Sea, which is one of a list of assets to be offered for concession. The expansion will increase the port’s capacity to 23m tonnes by 2010.

At Bautino port, also on the Caspian Sea, cargo handling areas will be expanded and a terminal will be built to handle equipment and building materials, increasing the port’s capacity from 1m tonnes to 4m tonnes a year. In addition, a US$12m facility for the repair and maintenance of small vessels will be constructed by the end of this year.