Construction of container hub in port of Aktau will begin in 2024, while green hydrogen capacity is planned in port of Kuryk

ASTANA. Dec 12 (Interfax) - The start of construction on a container hub in the Kazakh seaport of Aktau is planned for 2024, the press service of the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan said, citing Transport Minister, Marat Karabaev.

"Starting next year, construction of a container hub will begin in the port of Aktau. A corresponding agreement has already been signed with the port of Lianyungang [China]. The feasibility study of the project will be ready in April 2024," Karabaev said at a government meeting on Tuesday.

Construction of grain terminals in the port of Kuryk was also completed this year. In addition, terminals for general cargo and the transshipment of green hydrogen will be built at the port, the start of production of which, as reported, is planned for 2032 in the Mangistau region.

Karabaev also said that dredging work is planned in the seaports of Kuryk and Aktau. "Last week, bathymetric research began in the waters of the port of Kuryk. Dredging work in the port will be completed by July next year. (...) In 2024, similar work will be carried out in the port of Aktau," he said.

The Minister of Transport also added that the excavated soil would be used to further increase terminal capacities, and new territories with an area of about 170 hectares will be created. Negotiations are underway on promising areas with Abu Dhabi Ports, Rhenus and Shandong Port.

The minister noted that there are also private terminals on the Caspian coast, such as Ersai, Sarzha, and Bautino. "In the context of falling sea levels, these objects also require dredging. As they are privately owned, budgetary funds are not provided for this work. Because of the need to develop port infrastructure and attract investment for these purposes, the possibility of providing government support measures is under consideration," he said.

Earlier it was reported that Kazakhstan was negotiating with the largest Chinese container carrier, Cosco Shipping (China Ocean Shipping Company), as well as the port of Lianyungang on projects for the construction of terminal facilities in two Caspian ports - Aktau and Kuryk. It was also reported that the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation is interested in building a container hub in the ports of Aktau and Kuryk.

The port of Aktau includes a dry cargo terminal with a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year, a grain terminal capable of loading ships with up to 4,000 tonnes of grain per day, six oil berths with a total capacity of 12 million tonnes per year and a ferry complex with a capacity of 2 million tonnes of cargo per year.

A division of the Aktau sea trade port is the Bautino cargo area (150 km from Aktau), located in the waters of the Bautin Gulf of Tyubkaragan Bay. The port of Bautino can handle up to 200,000 tonnes of cargo.

The port of Kuryk is located on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), 90 km from the regional center of Aktau. The port has a ferry complex (with railway and automobile berths) for the transshipment of grain, oil products, fertilizers, chemicals and a number of other goods. The port's design capacity is 6 million tons of cargo per year.