Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery of Ukraine – Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, recently met with a delegation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) headed by the Bank’s President Odile Renaud-Basso, to talk about the implementation of Danube ports development projects.
The conversation focused on the implementation of joint reconstruction projects and opportunities for expanding cooperation in the development of the Danube Port Cluster.
“We see the prospect of cooperation on the development of the Danube Port Cluster. We started our work last year. Royal HaskoningDHV, an international engineering consultancy, has developed a list of measures to increase the capacity of the Danube ports as part of a joint pilot project between the Ministry and the EBRD, which relates to investment, operational and regulatory changes in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania,” commented Oleksandr Kubrakov .
According to him, the Danube Cluster has undoubtedly become a critical element of global food security in the face of limited operation of the Black Sea seaports, in particular, through operational dredging in the ports of the Danube region to restore their passport characteristics.
“In this way, we are reviving the Bystry Estuary channel as an alternative route for Ukrainian agricultural exports,” added Kubrakov.
Ukraine recently completed dredging operations at the mouth of the Bystroe River Danube, bringing the section of the waterway from the 0th kilometer to the 77th kilometer to 6.5 meter depth.
Thanks to this Ukraine is now able to provide more efficient and safe navigation between the Black Sea and the Danube River, as well as increase the cargo flow through the Danube ports.