Kazakhstan to complete Aktau Port dredging by end-2026 as part of Middle Corridor

Kazakhstan plans to complete dredging works at the port of Aktau Port by the end of 2026.

According to Report, citing the Kazakh government, the project is aimed at improving navigation safety and increasing the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

The government said that the project's contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, has already completed the geodetic surveys and data processing required for the works.

As part of the preparatory phase, specialized dredging vessels, machinery, and equipment are currently being mobilized.

"Major dredging operations are scheduled to begin in the second half of July this year. The project is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2026. Upon completion, the navigational draft in the port area will be increased to 6–7 meters, allowing vessels to operate at full load capacity and improving cargo-handling efficiency," the government said.

According to the government, the project will be one of the key factors supporting the expansion of the Middle Corridor's capacity.

"By 2028, the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is expected to increase from 6 million to 10 million tonnes per year. This will further strengthen Kazakhstan's role as a major transport and logistics hub along the East–West corridor," the statement said.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, is an international transport corridor linking China and Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.