Русский
A new ‘Water Silk Road’, based on the Irtysh River is being considered between Russia, Kazakhstan and China, and will require constructing hydro engineering complexes every 50 to 100 km along the river, according to Batyrbek Musin, an Adviser to the Chairman of the Board for Development at Pavlovsky River Port.
He was speaking at the 22nd Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Regions of Russia and Kazakhstan, and added that this new transport corridor can provide an alternative option for delivering cargo between the three countries, open access for China to the Northern Sea Route, and promote development of this priority maritime route. In addition, it supports Russia’s programme to revive river cargo transport.
In August last year, authorities of the Omsk region reported working on creating a new route to China via the Irtysh River and Kazakhstan. Its throughput capacity reaches an estimated 15 million tonnes annually. The transport corridor can shorten delivery times for goods and raw materials from Ob Irtysh basin regions to the Chinese border by 7 to 10 days.
Prospects for the new route meet interest in Kazakhstan and China, where potential measures to revive transport via the Irtysh River are under discussion.
Musin said that “This strategic issue can take the form of a Water Silk Road. In principle, transporting oversized equipment from China via the Irtysh River remains possible. Every 50 to 100 km, constructing appropriate hydro engineering complexes, cleaning, and performing dredging operations become necessary so that barges with carrying capacities from 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes can navigate the river.”
The Irtysh River flows through China, Kazakhstan, and Russia, emptying into the Ob River, which drains into the Kara Sea within the Arctic Ocean basin. The Water Silk Road will open access for China to the Northern Sea Route.
Furthermore, it will offer an alternative cargo delivery option among China, Kazakhstan, and Russia, easing loads on roads and railways while fitting into Russia’s new framework for reviving river freight transport.
