Romania approves upgrade of Constanta port infrastructure on the Black Sea

Ship carrying grain at Constanta port, Romania. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

According to a VNA correspondent in Eastern Europe, on September 8, the Romanian Government approved a plan to upgrade road infrastructure at the Black Sea port of Constanta as part of a larger investment in the port that could help increase the amount of Ukrainian grain shipped there.

Constanta is Ukraine's largest alternative export route, with grain arriving by road, rail or barge on the Danube.

Ukraine is one of the world's largest grain exporters and Romanian officials have announced a goal of doubling the capacity of Ukrainian grain shipments to the port of Constanta to 4 million tonnes per month in the coming period.

The Romanian government has upgraded dozens of railway lines connecting Constanta with Ukraine, while ongoing works on the Danube will allow more barges to pass, including hiring more pilots and conducting night navigation.

At the port of Constanta , the Romanian Ministry of Transport will use European Union (EU) funds to repair or reinforce existing infrastructure, renew roads, intersections and roundabouts, and implement a digital traffic management system.

According to Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, this is clear evidence that Bucharest is trying to support Ukraine by allowing grain transit, and also to connect the region.

The upgrades at the port of Constanta are expected to cost around $721.3 million and take 36 months to complete.

In the first seven months of this year, Ukraine shipped 8.1 million tonnes of grain through Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta.

According to the Association of Ukrainian Grain Enterprises, Ukraine's exports through the port of Constanta could increase to 35 million tons per season if there are clear changes in the port's operations./.

Source