Latvian port and railway development within 2012th year, growth prospects of the sector and future investments in infrastructure.
Latvian major ports 2012th year has been a steady growth year, leader Riga Freeport ended the year with a 5.9% rise and reached 36.05 million tons of cargo turnover mark, surpassing the port of Klaipeda 35.24 million tons (Lithuania) and Tallinn port 29.47 million tons (Estonia), which in turn, this year has brought a significant load loss. Klaipeda port not to lose honour of the leader of the Baltic States, has changed the flow of cargo tracking statistics, accompanied by the addition of Butinge terminal cargo turnover of 8.51 million tons, which quantify aggregate 43.75 million tonnes, of course to reach the goal of first-place in the Baltic’s, but at the same time confirmed the defeat in front of the Port of Riga.
Port of Ventspils exceeded 30.34 million tonnes, the largest cargo growth provides petroleum products (“Ventspils Nafta Terminal” and JSC “Ventbunkers”) and bulk-coal (JSC “Baltic Coal Terminal”), with current trend remaining seems reasonable to expect that the Ventspils Free Port in the coming years will beat 2001th record 37.9 million tons of cargo handled.
Largest cargo turnover ratio quantification is clearly seen in the port of Liepaja, the ability to not only beat the magic 5 million tonnes mark, but end up the year with 7.43 million tons of cargo handled, a total of 53% increase, is quite bold performance. An important issue for Liepaja port and the Latvian economy is the Lithuanian railway 2010th dismantled railway Mazeiki-Renge phase, which increases the cost of transport to the port of Liepaja about 300km and thus protectionists Klaipeda port positions. Latvian and Lithuanian senior officials should agree and resolve Mazeiki-Renge issue, which should ensure Liepaja port ~ 2 million tons from the Belarusian side.
Latvian Railway increased the freight volume strongly, with the most significant growth directions included coal (~ 35% of total transport volume), dry goods, grain and flour products as well as the transport of container traffic (which contributes significantly to the high demand for Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc.). The main problems of rail freight sector (1520mm) is insufficiency of wagons (gondolas, bulk wagons, container transport platforms), which is largely due to the economically developed countries, the demand for coal and the growing trend of container transport. It is understood that most of the railway freight is coal, petroleum and petroleum products and the main trading partners are the Russian Federation through where comes approximately 70% of the traffic volume and Belarus with ~ 22% market share.
In subsequent years, government of Latvia should actively promote Latvian Railway escalation of power capacity and the appropriate investment in infrastructure to power scores should not be a limiting factor in the ability to take and send cargo. The major investment projects, which have become a matter of national strategic priorities, are:
- East – West rail infrastructure renewal and modernization, with the East-West rail corridor and Riga passenger train route network electrification to 25 kV.dc;
- GSM-R wireless communications network throughout the Latvian territory;
- Single train planning and management system;
- Modernization of signalling subsystems and stations in parks. The most important railway junction reconstruction (Riga and Daugavpils railway junction modernization);
- Rail Baltica (1435mm) project, Latvian priority is to include connection to the Riga airport, including provisions for a new airport terminal in Riga train input, crossing the Daugava (Riga railway bridge in the urban area) and Saulkalnes Crossing (multi-modal bridge), as well as the road infrastructure and rail link (1435mm), with the port of Riga.
Investments in railway infrastructure will be able to pay off, on the condition if there are proper investments in the largest Latvian ports (Riga, Ventspils and Liepaja) fundamental infrastructure and further increase in throughput capacity. The most significant improvements in efficiency, delay or ignorance of which can significantly inhibit further development of ports and cargo growth are:
- East and West pier reconstruction of the port of Riga, including the area behind the creation of the West Pier;
- Access channel for ships entering the port of Riga- second stage of reconstruction;
- Transit road extension to Riga port- establishment of Kundziņsala motorway connection;
- Access roads to Ventspils Freeport existing terminals and industrial zones;
- Ventspils Free Port electrification and moles overhauls;
- The acquisition of depth maintenance vessel for Ventspils Freeport (including the co-operation of the Freeport of Riga and LSEZ the vessel for operational purposes);
- Development project of Northern port within Ventspils Free Port;
- Reconstruction of Liepaja harbour breakwaters and railway infrastructure.
The 2012th year has been a positive year of growth and development for transport sector, to ensure the continued growth and economic development, senior officials need to take adequate referral decisions in a timely and responsible manner. Gained additional revenue to budget should be used to invest in further development of entrepreneurship, innovation, financial instruments and infrastructure.
