The first meeting of the participants of the LLC "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Company" with the participation of the heads of the railway administrations of the three involved countries took place in Bishkek, reports the press service of the State Enterprise "Kyrgyz Temir Jolu."
The participants of the meeting discussed and made decisions on company management issues, including the election of members of the Board of Directors and the appointment of the company's executive body leaders. Additionally, financing issues were discussed, and the investment plan for 2024 was approved, the statement said.
The "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway" company was established in accordance with Kyrgyz law by the railway administrations of the three participating countries in the railway construction project—China State Railway Corporation, the State Enterprise "NK Kyrgyz Temir Jolu," and JSC "Uzbekiston Temir Yullari"—with the goal of implementing the construction project for the railway from China to Uzbekistan.
The newly established company will focus on financing, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway in the section that runs through Kyrgyzstan, according to the State Enterprise "Kyrgyz Temir Jolu."
Construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway was planned to begin in October 2024.
The main line will run from Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region through the Torugart Pass on the Chinese border at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, passing through the settlement of Makmal and the city of Jalal-Abad in Kyrgyzstan to Andijan in Uzbekistan. The total length of the projected railway is approximately 490 km, with 312 km running through Kyrgyzstan.
The railway will consist of two sections. From the Chinese border to the Makmal station (165.5 km), the track will be built with a gauge width of 1435 mm according to the Chinese standard, and from there to Jalal-Abad (146.2 km), the gauge will be 1520 mm. At the Makmal station, train composition reformation, cargo reloading, sorting, and weighing will take place.
The railway was designed by the Chinese company China Railway International. Its construction in Kyrgyzstan will be carried out by a joint company. China will own 51% of this company, while the railway companies "Kyrgyz Temir Jolu" and "Uzbekiston Temir Yullari" will each own 24.5%.
According to preliminary estimates, the total cost of the project is about $4.6 billion, to be provided by Chinese financial institutions. Part of the funds will be repaid by Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan after the railway is put into operation. It is estimated that Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will each receive about $760 million in credit funds from China.
Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz state budget plans to allocate 2.4 billion soms (about $28 million) for the construction of the branch, said Kyrgyz Finance Minister Almaz Baketaev during a parliamentary session.
At the same time, the First Deputy Head of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev explained that significant funds are needed to implement this project, and the government will seek additional sources of financing.
"This project requires large investments. The Kyrgyz side is also participating in the financing, including the capitalization of the joint company," he said.
It is expected that construction work will be completed by the end of 2030.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 11, 2024