Chinese company China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) has been awarded a contract to carry out dredging works at the port of Aktau worth 20.6 billion tenge. The works will be carried out in the port's waters amid the shallowing of the Caspian Sea.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE CONTRACT
According to the Telegram channel PROTENGE, the contract with CHEC was signed several days ago. Meanwhile, a government response to a parliamentary inquiry previously reported that the total cost of the dredging works could exceed 42 billion tenge.
At the time, the first phase of the project was also estimated at 20.6 billion tenge.
The reason for the works is cited as the falling water level in the Caspian Sea. Dredging is necessary to ensure vessels can approach the port of Aktau.
WHAT PROJECTS IS CHEC IMPLEMENTING IN KAZAKHSTAN AND ABROAD
CHEC is a Chinese state-owned infrastructure company specialising in the construction of ports, railways, bridges, and dredging works. The company operates in more than 100 countries and participates in major maritime and transport projects.
In Kazakhstan, CHEC has already secured several major contracts. In July 2025 the company signed an agreement with JSC NC «Kazakhstan Temir Zholy» (KTJ) worth 573 billion tenge. This concerns the construction of the «Bakhty – Ayagoz» railway line with a length of approximately 300 km. CHEC is also participating in the project to build a container hub at the port of Aktau in partnership with LLP «Integra Construction KZ».
Among the company's foreign projects are the deep-water port of Shanghai, the port of Doha in Qatar, and the port of Ashdod in Israel.