Russia’s Ministry of Transport has developed the transport strategy for 2030 to improve transport infrastructure, services and to increase the transit potential. To create a unique transport system, the strategy relies on the balanced development of an efficient infrastructure. Thus, next to supplying accessibility, quality services and integration in the global market, in the transport segment, the authorities encourage the development of logistics centres and services to increase transit, to attract the largest volumes of freight possible and to meet transport demands.
The economic impact of developing the strategy includes increasing exports 4.5 times (by 2030) from USD 13.2 Billion to USD 58.8 Billion, while transit through Russia will increase from 28.7 million tonnes to 84.5 million tonnes. Regarding transport, the whole system will be significantly optimised and the freight traffic average will double, the cargo transport time will increase to 16-20 hours/day, while the cargo delivery time, using multimodal transport, will be reduced by 25% compared to 2006, shows a study conducted by RC PERRET Company (“Turning Orders into Reality-A summary of the Russian 2030 transport strategy”).
In order to meet all challenges, in April the authorities launched two important transport hub projects: one in Chelyabinsk Region and one in Murmansk Region.
For the first one, the Russian Ministry of Transport has signed the deal on financing and construction of “South-Ural” transport and logistics centre. The agreement has been signed with the state-owned Transport & Logistics Company. The project, which is very important for the development of the logistics sector, will be the largest in Russia. Chelyabinsk Region is located in the middle of Eurasia, at the junction of the transport routes linking Russia and the CIS, making possible the adoption of the Development Strategy of the region by 2020.
“We need a large transport hub in the South Urals region to deliver and receive freight from China. The selected scheme is correct and the location is agreeable from all points of view, because it is here that the transport and logistics sector will thrive”, declared for Pravda IlyaKozlov, CEO of the transport and logistics company, National Customs Broker.
The “South-Ural” transport and logistics centre has strategic importance for Chelyabinsk Region, and for Russia. It will serve traffic between China and Russia and the implementation of the project will reduce travel time from China to Zabaikalsk.
For the second project, the Governor of Murmansk Region (Russia) is supported by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in the development of the Transport Hub and has demanded its implementation. The hub development project could be implemented by 2018 and includes the development of a railway to the left of Kola Bay (57 km of the Barents Sea), but also the construction of two railway stations and of a railway bridge. Private investors will get involved in the project and will build a coal terminal (Commercial Seaport Lavna), as well as an oil products terminal.
A preliminary agreement was signed in 2012, the main idea being to synchronize the construction of the coal terminal by private investors with RZD’s railways required for the construction of the hub.
Lavna Port plans to invest RUB 17.6 Billion (USD 509.5 Million) in the construction of a terminal of 18 million tonnes. The government will grant RUB 62 Billion (USD 18 Million) to the construction of a line, a drainage basin and other necessary facilities. The terminal and the railway will be built simultaneously and will be commissioned in 2018.
Share on:
