Ports of Crimea, Taman and Novorossiysk will constitute a single port agglomeration (photo)

The ports of the Crimean federal district in conjunction with the ports of Taman and Novorossiysk can constitute a single port agglomeration ensuring not only cargo handling but also employment of population in the region. This was announced by RF Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov at the meeting headed by RF President Vladimir Putin and dedicated to developing of the Azov-Black Sea port infrastructure.

In terms of throughput, the largest project in the Azov - Black Sea Basin is the development of dry cargo district of port Taman. Maxim Sokolov noted that it would be a deepwater well protected seaport which is so important for Russia.

The project is included into the federal special-purpose programme Development of Russia’s Transport System (2010-2020). The port with wave protection facilities is to cover the territory of 850 hectares, its depth will reach 20 meters. The port will be able to handle 180,000-tonne ships. Besides, it can be used as a shelter for vessels in distress in stormy weather.

The project on creation of the new dry cargo district of port Taman implies the construction of railway and infrastructure facilities and facilities for handling of grain, iron ore, mineral fertilizers, sulphur, containers and Ro-Ro cargoes. When fully operational in 2025, the port’s throughput is to reach 94 mln t.

Total investments into the project are estimated at RUB 200 bln. The federal budget is to allocate RUB 76 bln including RUB 40 bln for construction of approaches to the Bridge over the Kerch Strait (some 40 km of double-track electrified railway and four-lane highway of Category I). So the construction of those approaches and both ports of Taman will improve the efficiency of the infrastructure, the Minister said.

The project on construction of dry cargo district of port Taman has already obtained the state and environmental approvals and all necessary permits. The agreements of intent to participate in the project on construction of a new dry cargo district in port Taman have been signed with 10 large Russian companies including Global Ports Investments PLC, UCL Port B.V., METALLOINVEST LLC,  Siberian Coal Energy Company OJSC, Coal Company Kuzbassrazrezugol OJSC etc. Besides, agreements on implementation of investment projects in the port have been signed with the Government of the Krasnodar Territory.

The Territory Governor Aleksandr Tkachev said that the location of the existing ports in close vicinity to residential areas hinders their expansion due to ecology, infrastructure and social reasons.