LDz sees opportunity to become involved in Ukrainian grain transportation this autumn

RIGA - State-owned joint-stock rail company Latvijas Dzelzcels (LDz) sees an opportunity to get involved in Ukrainian grain transportation this autumn, said Rinalds Plavnieks, Chairman of the Board of the company, in an interview with Latvian Radio on Tuesday.

He said that he had previously been skeptical about the possibility of transporting Ukrainian grain by rail through Latvia. "Until the summer of this year, I was absolutely skeptical about this matter and thought that it was impossible on an industrial scale," Plavnieks said, explaining that such shipments would require two reloading of cargo.

At the same time, Plavnieks said that logistics technology and reloading capabilities have developed to such an extent that it is now possible to use much faster shipment of units. "Now there is an opportunity for Ukrainian grain," said Plavnieks.

He also mentioned that a meeting with the Ukrainian ambassador to Latvia took place last week and that the company's employees returned from a visit to Ukraine on Sunday.

According to the Chairman of the Board of LDz, about 500,000 tons to one million tons of Ukrainian grain could be transported through Latvia in a year.

Plavnieks also mentioned that LDz could be involved in the transport of Ukrainian grain this autumn.