Kazakhstan-led "Middle Corridor": Transportation and Mineral Resources Are Interrelated
During his state of the nation address in September, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan highlighted one prominent theme: the role of Kazakhstan as a transportation and logistics hub.
Hardware Advancements: Railways, Ports, and Highways
The most significant progress by 2025 is material. The long-awaited 836-kilometer Dostyk-Moyint railway double-track project has been completed, which is a major bottleneck on the east-west corridor connecting China and Kazakhstan. The project aims to enhance the capacity of this important railway line connecting Asia and Europe. Construction of the Bakty-Ayaguz railway and the Kyzylzhar-Moyint railway is also underway, which will form the main trunk lines of Kazakhstan's east-west and north-south infrastructure.
Transportation development is closely related to Kazakhstan's growing position in key mineral resources. In April this year, geologists announced a plan called "Dec 2019." Exploration work is currently underway at the Zhanar rare earth deposit in Kazakhstan, which is estimated to contain more than 20 million tons of elements such as neodymium, cerium, lanthanum, and yttrium. At the same time, Eurasian Resources Group is investing in the construction of a new gallium production facility, a strategic raw material for semiconductors, scheduled to start operations in 2026.
These developments are crucial because the ability to transport minerals efficiently is as important as mining. Western and Asian consumers are looking for alternatives to Chinese supply, but the reliability of transportation routes is the deciding factor. Without a predictable transportation chain, new deposits may face the risk of stranded assets.
An elastic and efficient transportation network can consolidate Kazakhstan's position as a strategic link in the global supply chain. In the coming years, Kazakhstan will face more challenges: whether the smart freight projects can be effectively implemented, whether containerization can develop, and whether cooperation with neighboring countries can compensate for the weakest links in the "Middle Corridor." Currently, transportation remains at the core of Kazakhstan's strategy.
Source: Foreign Policy
Author: Guest Author Alberto Frigerio
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844836275669193/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author(s) only.