RZD could get further 218 bln rubles from NWF for Eastern Polygon

MOSCOW. May 30 (Interfax) - Russian Railways or RZD could get up to 218 billion rubles of additional funding from the National Wealth Fund or NWF to develop its Eastern Polygon.

Deputy Transport Minister Valentin Ivanov told reporters on the sidelines of the "Containers 2023. Market Foresight" conference that the company could get a new tranche of NWF funding for the project.

Asked whether there were still any plans to tap the NWF to finance the RZD investment program, he listed the projects under discussion. "This is the development of the Eastern Polygon, Phase 3, using funds from the NWF for this. NWF funding for the construction of high-speed railways has also been considered, but given that there has been no final decision on high-speed lines, this issue is still on hold," Ivanov said.

"This issue is being considered for the Eastern Polygon. The figure is tentatively 200-218 billion rubles," he said.

Regarding the RZD investment program for 2024, Ivanov said that the document was under discussion, and the volume would be decided in Q3.

"We expect that the amount will not be less than this year," he said.

An investment program of 1.074 trillion rubles has been approved for 2023.

RZD received 467 billion rubles from the NWF in 2022.