Development of the Northern Sea Route until 2035 was discussed at the Exposition
The
pavilion of the Coordination Center of the Government of the Russian Federation
hosted the Meeting "Development of the Northern Sea Route: Results of 2023
and Plans until 2035" under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister
of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak.
The
Northern Sea Route (NSR) is the shortest route between the European part of
Russia and the Far East, Europe and Asia. It is also a significant incentive
for the development of Russia's natural resources - oil, gas and other minerals.
Moreover, the route acquires special importance in view of the increase in
supplies in the eastern direction, and in the future, it can become a new
international alternative to the route through the Suez Canal. The participants
of the meeting reviewed the results of work towards the development of the NSR,
discussed problematic issues and prospects - including the need to synchronize
"Arctic" projects with projects "on the mainland", and
jointly considered what still needs to be done.
"During
his address to the Federal Assembly, the President of Russia set the task - to
create a modern competitive logistics system on the basis of the Northern Sea
Route, which will become a driver of development of the Arctic region of our
country. The Government and specialized companies are actively working in this
direction - in particular, within the framework of the Federal Project for the
Development of the Northern Sea Route until 2035, the Government has approved
the NSR Infrastructure Development Plan, which contains 152 measures,"
said Alexander Novak.
He also
emphasized that the overall efforts aimed at the development of the project are
already yielding positive results - in particular, record cargo volumes.
"Last
year we recorded a record cargo traffic on the Northern Sea Route - over 36
million tons of cargo. This is five times more than the maximum figures during
the Soviet period. Transit cargo transportation along the NSR last year also
reached a record in the history of the route - 2.1 million tons, with oil being
the main transit cargo. The development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea
Route are interrelated tasks, so we need to work on them in a comprehensive
manner, we need smooth coordination between the government and business,
effective cooperation of the process participants, investors, suppliers,
regulators and shippers," Alexander Novak added.
220 million
tons of cargo traffic against the current 36 - this figure was announced by
Alexei Likhachev, Director General of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy
Corporation, speaking about the forecasts for the development of the NSR by
2035.
"In
the medium-term perspective for 2030 we see a planned figure of 150 million
tons, and if we start from more optimistic forecasts, this figure increases to
190 million. For 2035, we see indicative figures of 220 million tons,"
said Alexei Likhachev.
In
addition, according to the head of Rosatom, with "transport
connectivity" by 2035 it is possible to reach the figures of 250-270
million tons. At the same time, the prospects for increasing cargo traffic are
closely linked to the implementation of a number of major projects in the oil
and gas industry, further expansion of the modern icebreaker fleet, and an
increase in the number of Arctic-class cargo ships.
"No
Arctic project has been stopped. And we need to get ready for a breakthrough -
from tens of millions of tons in the twenties to hundreds of millions of tons
in the thirties," summed up the Director General of Rosatom.
Alexei
Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far
East and the Arctic, Alexander Dyukov, CEO of Gazprom Neft JSC, and others also
made presentations at the meeting.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has arrived at the International RUSSIA EXPO for the fifth time.
On July 8, the gala concert "We Are Millions" will be held on the main stage of the RUSSIA EXPO.
