Soyuztranslink (STL), Kazahkstan multi-modal transport provider to and from the central Asian republic is setting up twin hubs in Riga and Hong Kong to consolidate cargo for the growing oil and gas industry on the Caspian Sea.
Hong Kong is favoured for transpacific cargo because it is a free port where consolidation of less than container loads for onward shipment to Kazakhstan can be carried out would with a minimum of bureaucratic interference. The Latvian capital of Riga in the former Soviet Union, takes in transatlantic Kazakhstan-bound cargo on Russian gauge railways for inland transshipment.
Thus far, STL, is setting up its high volume forwarding system without much volume to speak up because it has confidence in the immediate future. Kazakhstan's combined onshore and offshore proven hydrocarbon reserves have been estimated between nine and 17.6 billion barrels, comparable to OPEC members Algeria on the low end and Qatar on the high end, said an STL statement.
But because it is serving the second largest known oil reserve, which is in the active exploration stage with 28 contracts signed by the government with Texan and Italian oil interests, STL has every confidence that within five years the region will be humming with a wide range of business activities.
As it stands, 65 per cent of STL traffic volume is air cargo and 35 per cent overland and sea freight. The company said this reflects the exploration stage of the oil and gas fields on shores of the Caspian Sea, which in fact is a fresh water lake.
STL has opened two new offices in Houston, Texas and hard by the oil and gas exploration at Atyrau on the Caspian to provide a full range of freight forwarding services to support the exploration and drilling projects.
Oil majors and service companies in the US have driven demand for service between the US and Central Asia. Alan Kan, director, for STL China said: "STL will be offering LCL shipments to Kazakhstan with the new service working closely with oil companies in Houston.
"In Atyrau we have a fully operational office providing customs clearance," said Mr Kan.
Said STL managing director Erlan Dikhanbayev: "Kazakhstan has the largest oil and gas reserves in the Caspian Sea basin and is projected to produce 2.5-3.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2015, surpassing today's output by Qatar or Iraq. STL is well positioned to provide a range of project forwarding services in Western Kazakhstan."
Hong Kong is favoured for transpacific cargo because it is a free port where consolidation of less than container loads for onward shipment to Kazakhstan can be carried out would with a minimum of bureaucratic interference. The Latvian capital of Riga in the former Soviet Union, takes in transatlantic Kazakhstan-bound cargo on Russian gauge railways for inland transshipment.
Thus far, STL, is setting up its high volume forwarding system without much volume to speak up because it has confidence in the immediate future. Kazakhstan's combined onshore and offshore proven hydrocarbon reserves have been estimated between nine and 17.6 billion barrels, comparable to OPEC members Algeria on the low end and Qatar on the high end, said an STL statement.
But because it is serving the second largest known oil reserve, which is in the active exploration stage with 28 contracts signed by the government with Texan and Italian oil interests, STL has every confidence that within five years the region will be humming with a wide range of business activities.
As it stands, 65 per cent of STL traffic volume is air cargo and 35 per cent overland and sea freight. The company said this reflects the exploration stage of the oil and gas fields on shores of the Caspian Sea, which in fact is a fresh water lake.
STL has opened two new offices in Houston, Texas and hard by the oil and gas exploration at Atyrau on the Caspian to provide a full range of freight forwarding services to support the exploration and drilling projects.
Oil majors and service companies in the US have driven demand for service between the US and Central Asia. Alan Kan, director, for STL China said: "STL will be offering LCL shipments to Kazakhstan with the new service working closely with oil companies in Houston.
"In Atyrau we have a fully operational office providing customs clearance," said Mr Kan.
Said STL managing director Erlan Dikhanbayev: "Kazakhstan has the largest oil and gas reserves in the Caspian Sea basin and is projected to produce 2.5-3.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2015, surpassing today's output by Qatar or Iraq. STL is well positioned to provide a range of project forwarding services in Western Kazakhstan."