Transport Minister proposes investment component in rail freight tariffs
VLADIVOSTOK. July 2 (Interfax) - The Transport Ministry reckons it is important to introduce an investment component in tariffs for rail freight shipments, Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said.
In a meeting in Vladivostok Monday, he said that according to experts if measures are not taken to upgrade rail infrastructure in 2015 "over 30 million tonnes of freight will not be shipped and total annual losses to the budget system will be around 18 billion rubles."
"To carry out measures aimed at developing rail infrastructure, we propose working on introducing an investment component to tariffs on rail freight shipments," the minister said.
Such a measure would provide a guaranteed source for the implementation of the relevant projects. "We propose using duties from this investment component on developing transport infrastructure for the railway in the Far East, where raising private capital is problematic due to low returns," Sokolov said.
Another possible source for raising funds could be offering priority rights to companies co-funding measures to develop infrastructure in obtaining freight shipment services by rail.
The Transport Minister said it was also necessary to establish long-term tariffs for rail shipments. "This will enable investors, on the one hand, to minimize risks in predicting long-term investment, and on the other, will enable OJSC Russian Railways to establish a long-term investment program."
"We also think it is a good idea to look into introducing concession agreements in the rail industry as current legislation [federal law 115] does not envisage private investors in general use infrastructure," the minister added.
Sokolov said the requirements for sections of infrastructure where such mechanisms can be applied need to be clarified. "This of course be the main track, but as to dead-end lines, adjacent to the main track, they can be viewed as concession objects," he said.
