foto: RAILTARGET/Transport of Grain from Ukraine: Slovakia Stands to Gain Millions of Euros for Modernizing Transshipment Capacities in Čierna nad Tisou
At a press conference held directly at the railway station in Čierna nad Tisou – also a transshipment point for goods between Ukraine and Slovakia – Slovak Minister of Transport Pavol Lančarič expressed his delight over the visit of the Executive Vice President of the European Commission for the Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis. Lančarič highlighted the significance of showcasing Slovakia's assets and the crucial investment areas. "The matter of Ukrainian grain is of utmost importance, and this project requires investment," Lančarič emphasized.
Dombrovskis highlighted during the press conference that the European Commission has earmarked nearly 68 million euros for railway border crossings and the respective transshipment points in Hungary, Slovakia, and Ukraine. The combined project cost for these countries is estimated to be around 130 million euros. He also noted that Slovakia would be receiving a new X-ray scanner for rail cargo to bolster security measures and ensure smoother traffic of incoming rail cargo in Čierna nad Tisou.
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Moreover, Dombrovskis urged Slovakia to seek extra assistance from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). "The calls for project submissions under the CEF for 2023 opened on September 26, 2023, with the deadline set for January 30, 2024," he detailed. The CEF for transport is a key financial tool for the realization of European transport infrastructure policy. Dombrovskis further highlighted the importance of channeling investments towards the creation of new transport infrastructure in Europe, as well as renovating and updating the existing infrastructure.
During his visit, Dombrovskis inspected the transshipment facilities in both Čierna nad Tisou and Dobra. He witnessed firsthand the limitations of these routes, which currently handle 10 to 15% of grain shipments. Addressing the broader challenges, the European Commissioner mentioned, "We're tackling issues at the European level too, especially with the closure of the Black Sea route causing disruptions in the so-called 'solidarity corridors.'"
Interestingly, Slovakia is one of the three countries that has unilaterally banned the import of Ukrainian grain. However, Dombrovskis hinted that this visit to the transshipment points aims to foster a comprehensive solution. Minister of Agriculture, Jozef Bíreš, mentioned his regular communications with the Ukrainian Minister of Agriculture as they jointly seek viable solutions. He anticipates receiving feedback from Slovakia regarding grain licensing soon. "It's crucial that the guarantees provided by licensing are robust and that there are no breaches," Bíreš stated.
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Bíreš added that this year's grain yields in Slovakia have surged by 10-15% over the five-year average. "We have a surplus, with consumption and export each accounting for 50%. The influx, especially from Ukraine, has impacted our pricing since grain prices have plummeted by 50% or even more year-on-year," he explained. "Trade from Slovakia is now more complex," he further detailed, expressing hope that the meeting would lead to an expanded grain transit corridor.
ZSSK CARGO's CEO, Roman Gono, underlined the significance of the Čierna nad Tisou location in the rail transport sector, calling attention to its pivotal role where broad and normal gauge intersect. Gono revealed that millions of tons of goods, including five million tons of iron ore, get transshipped at this point. "This year, we'll see over a million tons of grain from Ukraine. We're prepared with both manpower and resources. However, we'll require investments in wagons and technology. Our infrastructure's condition is evident, but we possess the workforce to manage," Gono asserted, hinting at the need for legislative backing.
He concluded, "This visit is the most significant here since the founding of the republic. I'm optimistic that it will not only aid the local population in finding employment but also channel more cargo through Slovakia. Presently, a substantial amount of containers and other shipments from Asia bypass Slovakia. We hope to play a pivotal role in transportation."
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