Major construction work completed at UK grain terminal, pact signed aimed at rebuilding Ukrainian infrastructure
The Tilbury Grain terminal has been in operation for over 50 years and is a key strategic facility in the UK for the grain import and export markets, with it handling over two million tons of product from around the world.
The port operators said the steel silos will be filled and emptied using a new 650 ton per hour transfer conveyor system, while the combined silo and flat store facility returns the terminal’s total on site storage to 100,000 tons.
A new concrete silo, the work on which will be completed in December 2023, will add a further 34,000 tons of automated storage, underpinning the grain terminal as the UKs largest import/export grain handling facility.
Peter Ward, commercial director at The Port of Tilbury, said: “Our terminal is a key facility in the South-East of England and an essential part of the UK agricultural supply chain for imports and exports and benefits from the full multimodal services at the Port of Tilbury including river barge transportation into central London.”
The terminal also operates a monthly coastal shipping service from Tilbury to its sister port in Kirkcaldy, Scotland for Carr’s Milling.
Aid for Ukrainian infrastructure
Meanwhile, last week saw the UK sign a pact with Ukraine that commits to sharing engineering expertise and pledges a new package of support to help rebuild its war damaged infrastructure. Experts will offer knowledge in airport, runway, and port reconstruction.
On August 25, UK transport secretary, Grant Shapps, hosted a virtual meeting with his counterpart at the Ukrainian ministry of infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov.
Schapps also outlined more detail about the £10m (US$11.5m) Ukrainian railways support package, previously announced by UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, at the G7 Summit.
“This will buy bridge repair and tunnel lining equipment, key hand tools and more than 120 shipping containers, which will help mobilize Ukrainian grain trains, currently hampered by Russian activity. With Ukraine being one of the biggest exporters of grain in the world, these vital interventions will help its economy recover and alleviate pressure on global food prices.”
The UK officials said these funds would support the Black Sea grain initiative, which allows the safe passage of grain, food, and fertilizer exports out of Ukraine in protected shipping corridors. So far, they said the initiative has freed 721,449 metric tons of goods from three Ukrainian ports.
