Dutch delegation visits Ukraine to explore possibilities of cooperation on development of ports in Mykolaiv and Kherson
On October 12, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine Kees Klompenhouwer, representatives of the Embassy and Dutch companies visited Mykolaiv region to explore the possibilities of cooperation on development of ports in Mykolaiv and Kherson, NIBULON says in a press release.
Given the fact that NIBULON is the only agricultural company in Ukraine engaged in river transportation and revival of the Dnipro River and the Southern Buh River as the main transport arteries of Ukraine, a delegation from the Netherlands decided to visit NIBULON shipbuilding and repair yard and NIBULON’s transshipment terminal, to communicate with NIBULON’s General Director Oleksiy Vadaturskyy, and to discuss prospects for development of river and sea transport.
Despite cold and rainy weather, the members of the delegation familiarized themselves with capacities of NIBULON shipbuilding and repair yard and terminal’s laboratory with interest. Kees Klompenhouwer even tasted fresh bread produced by NIBULON.
During the meeting Oleksiy Vadaturskyy told the dignitaries about problems and solutions in the development of inland waterways and river transport in Ukraine.
“At present NIBULON is actively dredging the Southern Buh River at its expense and it is redirecting its cargoes to river transport. Thus, we have already dredged 134 km of the Southern Buh River to 2.4 m depth at our own expense. This year we have already transported 170 thousand tons of grain along this river. The company plans to increase volumes of river transportation to 1 million tons. We have constructed two facilities on the banks of the Southern Buh River for this purpose.
The company plans to dredge the Dnipro River to 3.65 m. We bought high-capacity dredgers and a hydraulic hammer. In spring we will have the opportunity to start dredging the Dnipro River without the state support. This is a very complicated issue as, for example, to dredge the Southern Buh River we spent 5 years to obtain 47 permits. The situation with the Dnipro River is similar. We have been trying to obtain permits for dredging for 5 years”, noted Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
The member of the Dutch delegation, Project manager and Senior expert of “Witteveen+Bos” Robero Zanetti was impressed by NIBULON’s achievements in development of inland waterways,
“We have already seen how the company works. First of all, our company wanted to know if there is any need in additional information from us or in additional techniques. What I saw here gives evidence that much has already been done. In my opinion, NIBULON made the greatest contribution to the development of river transport in Ukraine. However, the other companies which also use the Dnipro River have to join NIBULON.
Sea ports and “Ukrzaliznytsia”, being subordinated to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, lobby their interests. They don’t want to make river transportation cheaper than transportation by railway transport. Thus, no one does anything to promote development of river transportation.
Moreover, Oleksiy Vadaturskyy added that the draft law “On inland water transport” has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Its main aim is to introduce the river due which will make transportation by river more expensive. The river due collection contradicts the best practice of the leading countries with developed river transport.
At the end of the meeting, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine Kees Klompenhouwer said that the Netherlands, in turn, will support NIBULON and will help to solve the problems in development of inland waterways in Ukraine.
“I have realized that the voice of one man is the voice of no one in a struggle for the Dnipro River”, said Kees Klompenhouwer. “You are not alone any more. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine has started a program to develop the Dnipro River. Frankly speaking, we have started it recently, but we plan to carry on. We know how to maintain rivers. Moreover, we have been engaged in trade for a long time and know everything about agriculture. I mean, the Netherlands is also interested in development of navigation along the Dnipro River”.
The Ambassador also added that they plan to gather agricultural producers and exporters, who are interested in using rivers to transport cargoes, at the Dutch Embassy in November. It is expected that representatives of the European Union will take part in this event. Kees Klompenhouwer invited Oleksiy Vadaturskyy to this meeting.
“Together we can come to conclusion on solution to the problems with waterways”, noted the Dutch diplomat.
NIBULON has studied and summarized the best experience of the EU countries and the Republic of Belarus in using inland water transport. Due to persistence and work of Ukrainian agriculture leader, 134 km of the Southern Buh River became navigable. NIBULON transports about 2 million tons of cargoes per year by inland waterways, but it plans to increase the volumes to 4 million tons per year.
