ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 23. Kazakhstan’s
ERSAI Industrial Port, under the management of ERSAI Caspian
Contractor, has initiated a dredging project at Kuryk Port aimed at
enhancing the capacity of the Middle Corridor, Trend reports via the Kazakh
Ministry of Transport.
The project aims to enhance the depth of the port and its access
channel to 5 meters, thereby facilitating year-round navigation and
supporting the growth of transit flows along the Middle
Corridor.
ERSAI is fully financing the initiative, having invested in the
construction of its proprietary Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD 650),
named ERSAI 5. This strategic investment allows the company to
retain complete control over project timelines, quality standards,
and cost management. Dredging operations are planned to be executed
between January and June 2026, with a total dredging volume of 1
million cubic meters.
The initiative is expected to significantly increase cargo
turnover, bolster transit flows along the Middle Corridor, and
create a solid foundation for future investment projects in the
Caspian region.
ERSAI Caspian Contractor LLC, a joint venture between
Kazakhstan’s ERC Holdings and Saipem, is overseeing the project’s
execution.
The Middle Corridor is a trade transport route connecting Asia
and Europe, serving as an alternative to traditional northern and
southern corridors. It starts in China, passes through Central
Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan,
crosses the Caspian Sea, continues through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and
Türkiye, and reaches Europe.
