/IRBIS, Jan 17, 01/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to public relations department of the Kazakhstan Temir Joly, that the company's cargo loading increased by 26.1% in year 2000 compared to year 1999, at 156.289 mln tons.

It is said that the year 2000 has become an improvement stage for the country's railroads.

Following are some figures of the company's activities in year 2000:

-----------------------------------------------
Goods                       mln tons  % to 1999
--------------------------  --------  ---------
Coal                           74.12      +27.2
Oil and oil products           17.63      +15.3
Iron ore                       19.19      +43.6
Ferrous metals                  4.71      +14.4
Non-ferrous metals             10.17       +5.6
Grain and milling products      7.33      +52.7
--------------------------  --------  ---------

The railroads are said to have transported 15.9 mln passengers, that is by 11.4% more than in 1999.

Total volume of transits in year 2000 equaled 5.6 mln tons, or 14% more than in 1999.