August 20 - The government of Turkmenistan has launched a USD2 billion project to build a new port on the Caspian Sea - the International Seaport City of Turkmenbashi.

Turkmenistan president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan took part in a ground breaking ceremony at the site of the new gateway, which will be built by Turkish construction company Gap Insaat.
 
The new port in Turkmenbashi will be used to export oil products, liquefied gas and textiles.
 
The general cargo terminal will be located in an area of 340,000 sq m and will have an annual capacity of 4 million tonnes. It is designed for unloading, loading, placement and shipment of building materials, iron, steel, wood products, machinery and equipment. The quay will measure 752 m and will be able to berth five vessels simultaneously.
 
The port will also have a 100,000 sq m bulk terminal with a capacity of 3 million tonnes per year. A 680 m quay will have the capacity to serve three vessels at any one time.
 
A 232,600 sq m container terminal with an average annual capacity of 400,000 teu is also planned at the new seaport;  a 193,800 sq m ferry and passenger port will also be developed.
 
The port will have state-of-the-art equipment to maximise efficiency and minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
 
Furthermore, a 143,000 sq m domestic shipyard will be built to serve Turkmenistan's growing shipbuilding industry.
 
Berdymukhamedov said the new port will make it quicker for European countries to export to markets in the Middle East, in turn boosting capital investment in Turkmenistan.
 
An 800 km pipeline is already under construction from Turkmenistan's Galkynysh gas field, the world's second-largest natural gas deposits, to Turkmenbashi to lessen dependence on exports to Russia.

Turkmenistan president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

www.turkmenistan.gov.tm

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