KMG and AD Ports Group Strengthen Cooperation

KazMunayGas Chief Executive Officer Askhat Khassenov met in Astana with Ammar Al Shaiba, Chief Executive Officer of AD Ports Group's Maritime & Shipping Cluster.

The parties have discussed joint cooperation in the field of cargo transportation by sea as well as prospects of shipbuilding to equip the tanker fleet and support the Caspian offshore projects.

Particular attention was paid to the tanker fleet expansion operationally needed to transport Kazakh oil in the open seas. Earlier, Kazmortransflot (KMTF - a KMG subsidiary) and AD Ports Group signed a Tanker Pooling Agreement.

Today it consists of 4 tankers. During the period of pool operation, 8.8 million tons of oil were transported. AD Ports Group plans to add two additional vessels by the end of this year.

Earlier, the Head of State highlighted a special role of the transport and logistics industry in the country's economy, including development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).

Currently, three KMTF container carrying ships are running along the TITR line.

Considering the AD Ports Group vast experience in organizing and transportation of container cargo in more than 10 countries, joint shipbuilding and ferry construction projects are now discussed with the Arabian company.

This cooperation will contribute to development of the TITR and entire transit transportation potential of Kazakhstan.

A. Khassenov thanked the AD Ports team for the constructive cooperation.