All news

Belkomur project on building railway launched in US

The southern section stretches from Syktyvkar, across the Komi Republic and the Perm Territory

WASHINGTON, November 5 (Itar-Tass) — The launching of the Belkomur new project on building a railway, linking the Komi Republic, the Perm and Arkhangelsk regions, was made on Friday at the American-Russian Business Council, Itar-Tass learnt from Federation Council member from the Komi Republic Vladimir Torlopov.

He participations in consultations within the standing committee of parliamentarians of the Arctic region.

The aim of the project is to cut cargo transportation by rail by around 700 kilometres. “This will have a positive effect on the price policy, that is it will cut the cost of transported goods, let alone involvement of labour and land which have never been developed in the past. The region is taiga thickets,” noted Torlopov.

According to the Russian senator, the federal government supported the project, but suggested implementing it on the basis of private-state partnership. “Talks were already held with several national oil and gas companies; nobody expressed an objection,” noted Torlopov. Foreign business also displays interest in Belkomur.

According to the senator, the head of the Komi Republic met several foreign investors just a few days ago.

Torlopov noted that president of the American-Russian Business Council Edward Verona positively treated the idea of building the railway. The puck is now in the yard of American companies. “The idea is very correct. The fact that the trunk railway, running from Siberia and the Far East across the Ural Mountains to the centre, is overloaded is understandable to everyone,” the senator emphasised.

“Additional possibilities are needed to load the ports of Arkhangelsk and Murmansk.”

The legislator regards as quite feasible the sum which is to be spent on the railway’s construction.

The Belkomur project suggests construction of a railway to connect Arkhangelsk, Syktyvkar, Kudymkar and Perm. The total length of the railway will be 1,155 kilometres. Out of the total, 715 kilometres is new construction, the rest is reconstruction and improvement of operating lines. Belkomur consists of two sections: the northern (crosses the territories of the Arkhangelsk Region and the Komi republic).

The southern section stretches from Syktyvkar, across the Komi Republic and the Perm Territory. The volume of investments in the project stands at 400 billion roubles.

“We have passed all interested parties, and the only thing now is to approve the project at a cabinet meeting,” added Torlopov.