The construction of 6.9 km of the Shiveekhuren port railway is complete

P.Jargalsuren, T.Byambanaran

On May 29, 2024, the Ministry of Road and Transport Development informed that the construction of the 6.9 km railway connecting Mongolia's Shiveekhuren port with China's Ceke port has been completed.

The Ministry emphasized that connecting Shiveekhuren port with Ceke by rail marks the beginning of the western vertical axis railway of Shiveekhuren - Nariinsukhait - Artssuuri, which is the cross-border railway of the Economic Corridor between Mongolia, Russia and China.

With the construction of the port’s railway infrastructure a new border crossing will be opened to export mining products from the Nariinsukhait deposit by rail. Accordingly, the throughput capacity of the border port is expected to increase by 10 million tons.

Additionally, transportation costs are to decrease, and improvements in environmental, labor safety, and hygiene standards should be evident, fostering favorable conditions for increasing exports.

Nariinsukhait Railway LLC’s successfully completion of the railway took one year and was entirely funded by the company's own investment to expand the domestic railway network and facilitate new border crossings. The new railway will be crucial for integrating mining products into the country's economic circulation, and further enhancing Mongolia's infrastructure and trade capabilities.

The Shiveekhuren railway project, spanning a total length of 19.2 kilometers, includes comprehensive infrastructure such as station tracks, signaling facilities, energy and water supply systems, buildings, and trans-shipment facilities. As of today, the railway and associated buildings have been constructed, with full project completion expected in the third quarter of this year.

The railway, with a gauge of 1,435 mm, includes five branch tracks for receiving and dispatching trains. It also features four loading and unloading branches designed for the efficient handling of containerized goods. These facilities allow for the unloading of goods from trucks, transferring them to wagons, and loading empty containers back onto trucks. Additionally, the terminal is equipped with a loading area specifically for the operation of container lifters, enhancing overall efficiency.

Shiveekhuren is a strategically important port, handling 48% of Mongolia's coal exports. On average, 10-18 million tons of mineral resources and mining products are exported through this port annually. This can increase to 30-35 million tons with expanded rail transport capacity.