Kazakhstan’s national railways company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has announced a partnership with China’s Lianyungang Port and the Aktau Sea Trade Port to establish a container hub at the Port of Aktau. The founding documents for this joint venture were signed on September 20 in Xi’an, China.
This initiative is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, receiving strong backing from both the Kazakh and Chinese governments. The new container hub aims to enhance Kazakhstan's role in the international logistics network. Positioned on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, the hub is expected to boost the route's appeal and increase transit traffic volumes.
KTZ Express, a subsidiary of KTZ, has a longstanding partnership with Lianyungang Port, having successfully executed two major projects over the past decade: the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Lianyungang and the Khorgos Gateway, Central Asia's largest dry port located at the Kazakh-Chinese border.
On the same day, a container train departed Xi’an along the TITR, marking a significant milestone in the project. This train, comprising 55 40-foot containers, is set to travel a distance of approximately 7,000 km, reaching Baku in 8-11 days and Budapest within 25 days. The departure ceremony was attended by the heads of the railway administrations from China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
The container hub is expected to streamline logistics further, with the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an playing a pivotal role. Opened in early 2024, it currently accounts for 30% of all container trains from China to Europe that are assembled at the dry port. KTZ reports that cargo transit via the TITR has surged 20-fold in the first eight months of this year compared to the previous year, significantly reducing delivery times—11 days to Azerbaijan and 14 days to Georgia.
This collaboration is set to strengthen the economic ties between Kazakhstan and China while enhancing the efficiency of the international supply chain.
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In a significant move towards sustainability, a leading beverage brand has launched a comprehensive program aimed at upgrading its emissions calculation and reporting processes. The initiative, spearheaded by consultancy AllChiefs, is designed to deliver clear and actionable recommendations for reducing emissions and improving overall environmental impact.
The project unfolds in three distinct phases, each building on the last. In the first phase, AllChiefs collaborated with the multinational beverage company
to clarify its sustainability ambitions. A primary focus was on reducing the time and resources spent on manual reporting, transitioning to a more integrated and automated emissions reporting system.
"One of the main aims for the beverage company was to ensure compliance with emissions accounting standards," said Inge Tanke, partner at AllChiefs. "Navigating the complex landscape of international rules can be challenging, and having more detailed emissions data is essential for better insights into reduction efforts."
The second phase involved a thorough assessment based on AllChiefs' three main criteria: enhancing input data reliability, aligning calculation methods with international standards, and improving reporting governance. "We conducted interviews with key stakeholders to identify both strengths and challenges in the current process," noted Bonne Goedhart, another partner at AllChiefs.
Additionally, the project ensured alignment of IT initiatives with the new data approach, safeguarding against data loss and optimizing storage methods. Sample data calculation checks were performed to address critical methodological questions, including responsibilities for intercompany logistics and reporting on complex scenarios.
The final phase focused on categorizing and prioritizing identified gaps to enhance the client's data practices. This included a collaborative workshop with stakeholders to validate the gaps and assess them based on effort and impact. The outcomes were categorized into immediate compliance needs, quick fixes, tool implementations, and long-term improvements.
The prioritization process provided the client with various implementation options, each with its own set of pros and cons. Ultimately, the project equipped the beverage brand with a clearer overview of its current emissions reporting status, prompting the hiring of a new employee dedicated to advancing these improvement efforts.
"Improving the emissions reporting process is a continuous journey," Goedhart emphasized. "It requires ongoing commitment to maintain accuracy and relevance. We are proud to support our client’s journey toward a sustainable future, aligning perfectly with our values and decarbonization goals."
As climate change intensifies and regulatory frameworks tighten, companies face increasing pressure to adopt greener logistics practices. Beyond direct emissions (scope 1 and 2), there is a growing emphasis on addressing the challenging scope 3 emissions—those arising from entities that companies engage with but do not directly control.
“AllChiefs is committed to accelerating the transition to net-zero logistics and partnering with clients in this critical challenge,” Tanke and Goedhart stated.
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