ALMATY, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Freight volume on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has surged over the past five years, rising from 800,000 tonnes in 2020 to 4.5 million tonnes in 2024, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev was quoted as saying by the country's Kazinform News Agency on Thursday.
He said the government aims to raise the figure to 10 million tonnes annually, highlighting the route's growing competitiveness.
To support this growth, Kazakhstan approved in July 2024 the National Infrastructure Plan through 2029, which focuses on upgrading key systems, meeting public needs and ensuring sustainable economic development, said Bozumbayev.
In December 2024, the country also adopted the Modernization of the Energy and Utilities Sector national program, aimed at renewing core facilities and ensuring a reliable power supply, he said.
Bozumbayev noted that about 6.8 trillion tenge (around 12.6 billion U.S. dollars) will be invested in upgrading 86,000 kilometers of utility networks.
In addition, Kazakhstan plans to commission at least 26 gigawatts of new generating capacity by 2035 through expanding renewable energy, developing flexible gas-fired generation, tapping into hydropower resources, and maintaining essential carbon-based capacity, he said. ■
