Oleg Osinovsky, managing partner of the Estonian rail services company Skinest Group, says the main bottleneck in the Middle Corridor lies in the Caspian Sea, leaving Georgia with limited influence over the issue. Speaking on BMG TV’s program Business Week, Osinovsky noted that while Georgian authorities still have work to do, the country can currently manage cargo flows on the Trans-Caspian international transport route.
“The whole problem of the Middle Corridor is in the Caspian Sea. The issue is in the capacity of the Caspian Sea, transportation, a sufficient number of wagons from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. Georgian Railways cannot influence the process here in any way. Georgian Railways will transport everything that is brought to it,” Osinovsky said, emphasizing that Azerbaijan and other countries in the corridor largely determine the flow and tariffs. He added that Georgia can only influence the corridor through modern ports and infrastructure, such as developing Anaklia or expanding Poti port terminals.
Osinovsky also highlighted the long-standing issues within Georgian Railways, including outdated technical infrastructure and high energy losses. “The railway loses 15% of electricity in the wires. They need to invest heavily in replacing the power supply, road development, and other improvements. But today there aren’t enough cargoes to justify a billion-dollar investment,” he explained, noting the importance of finding a balance between taxpayer investment and operational returns. He expressed confidence in the new leadership of Georgian Railways, describing them as capable of addressing these challenges.
Skinest Rail, Osinovsky’s company, operates in Georgia through its subsidiary Skinest Rail Georgia, which was among the top-five largest investors in the country in Q2 2024. The company also owns Tbilisi Hills, highlighting its significant role in Georgia’s transport and infrastructure sectors.
