Ukraine has additionally earned $1.5 billion after the liberation of Snake Island in June last year and the opening of the Bystre estuary for shipping in the Danube Delta.
This was reported by Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration.
"Following the liberation of Snake Island and the opening of the Bystre estuary, the throughput capacity of the Danube port cluster has tripled – to nine vessels per day. The impact on the state – an increase by approximately 10 million tonnes of cargo per year," Kubrakov wrote.
Furthermore, in March 2023, Ukraine brought the Ukrainian section of the Danube up to historical operating characteristics and carried out deepening near the port berths, to allow for the acceptance of more vessels and cargo.
"The results came quickly – the maximum draft increased from 3.9 metres to 6.5 metres, and the Danube port reached a record of 12 vessels and 90,000 tonnes per day. This also added tens of millions of dollars to the state economy every month," Kubrakov pointed out.
He added that the port had been successfully increasing export capacities by deploying additional capacities and handling new types of cargo.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that these steps by the state and state-owned enterprises were not enough to fully realise the potential of the Danube ports. The need for investment is at least $120 million, and it will not be possible to attract these funds solely with state resources.
Background. Mind previously reported that Kernel would invest $10 million in the construction of a new terminal in the port of Reni.