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Azerbaijan expects rail transportation to more than double with Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project launched

13 October 2012 11:10 (UTC +04:00)

To him, work on BTK project will be completed by the second half of 2013 and the first test train will be launched.

The minister noted that transportation on this project could reach 5 mln tonnes in the initial stage, 10 mln tonnes in the second stage and 15 mln tonnes in the final stage: â€˜At present, the volume of railway transportations makes 20 mln tonnes in Azerbaijan, it will hit 50 mln tonnes after the launch of BTKâ€™.

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey signed the final document on the construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars on February 8, 2007. The construction of the new railway started on November 21, 2007. Azerbaijan extended $200mln preferential loan for Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway LLC (for 25 years) to construct Georgian part of the railway. At the expense of this loan new 29km-road and wheels changing station will be constructed and the old road will be reconstructed.

Moreover, Azerbaijan extended extra funds for Georgia $575mln. (for 25 years) to change the direction of the tunnel that will be built in the area from Akhalkalaki by the Turkish border and rehabilitate and reconstruct 160km railway in Marabda-Akhalkalaki. Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project is being implemented with the financial support of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan.