Zabaikalsky Grain Terminal to open door for Russian grain exports to C. Asia, Middle East, China - PM

CHITA. Aug 16 (Interfax) - The Zabaikalsky Grain Terminal, which is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2022, will essentially open a gateway for Russia to export grain to Central Asia, the Middle East and China, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at a presentation of the project in Chita.

"I want to congratulate you on the fact that the facility will finally start to operate. Essentially, as you already said, this is the world first overland terminal with continuous coupling technology that on top of that also solves the problem of different gauge railway tracks and, accordingly, essentially opens a window for exports to Central Asia, as well as the Middle East and China," Mishustin said.

The Zabaikalsky Grain Terminal will be the largest grain logistics facility in Russia, as well as the world's first specialized integrated overland grain terminal that solves the problem of different track gauges, provides separate storage and handling services, and ensures a high level of bio security.

Terminal CEO Karen Ovsepyan said to the prime minister that the "facility is unique in every way."

"This is the first overland grain terminal in the world, the largest in Russia at the moment. It can handle eight million tonnes per year. Innovation in everything," Ovsepyan said.

The terminal is the first and the key element in the Russia-China New Overland Grain Corridor project. The project is expected to eliminate infrastructure constraints for handling grain in the Far East and reduce grain logistics costs.