Kazakhstan's national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), intends to expand its railway network and infrastructure amid growing demand for cargo transportation between China and Europe. This is reported by foreign media with reference to CEO Talgat Aldybergenov.
Kazakhstan has focused on transport logistics as a strategic priority and transformed the national railway company into a key transit operator. By 2030, KTZ's total investments in infrastructure development will reach $10 billion, taking into account half of the amount already invested.
Kazakhstan has signed long-term agreements with the American Wabtec and the French Alstom for the supply of locomotives for 10 years in order to avoid shortages and increase railway capacity.
The Middle East conflict is leading to an increase in land shipments to China and underscores the growing importance of the so-called The Middle Corridor, which includes The Trans-Caspian railway route between China and Europe, which passes through several countries (Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey), with the longest section located on the territory of Kazakhstan.
KTZ considers the Caspian Sea to be one of the main bottlenecks in the project and intends to invest more than $100 million in the acquisition of six vessels, including four built by the Chinese company Jiangsu Hantong Group and two at the Baku Shipyard in Azerbaijan.
In addition, KTZ is expanding its terminal facilities in China and Europe. In 2020, the company acquired a terminal in the port of Xi'an, gaining access to the hub through which about 40% of all container trains traveling from China to Europe via Kazakhstan pass.
At the moment, KTZ is negotiating the acquisition of container terminals in Romania, Hungary and Germany, and is also exploring the possibility of implementing a joint project in the Chinese province of Chengdu to increase exports to China.
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) is a Kazakhstani state transport and logistics holding company, a railway carrier of goods and passengers and the largest operator of the main railway network in Kazakhstan. The headquarters is located in Astana (Kazakhstan).
