Within the framework of the International Arctic Forum, a strategic session "A model for the development of the NSR in the long term" was held. The session was attended by the Governor of the Murmansk region Andrey Chibis – Igor Levitin, Chairman of the State Council of the Russian Federation Commission on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Field of Transport, Deputy Chairman of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation, Sergey Vakhrukov, Head of the Presidential Office for National Maritime Policy, Director General of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Alexey Likhachev, Joint Secretary of the National Security Council of the Republic of India Venkat Naga Prasanna Telidevara, Gadzhimagomed Huseynov, First Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, Alexander Tsybulsky, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region, Aisen Nikolaev, Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and other participants.
The meeting participants thanked Governor Andrey Chibis and his team for the excellent organization of the forum in difficult weather conditions. The head of the region recalled the Arctic wind, which greeted the forum guests and noted that the weather is a very important factor, and it is very difficult to live in the North and fulfill the tasks that lead the country forward.
Recall that in July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Andrei Chibis Chairman of the State Council of the Russian Federation Commission on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic, the head of state announced the decision to form the commission during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June of the same year.
"The Northern Sea Route is the main transport artery connecting all the Arctic regions, and today we correctly call it the transatlantic transport corridor. It is quite obvious that the development of the Northern Sea Route is a global project of Russia in the 21st century. It should be noted that the development of the NSR cannot be considered in isolation from the development of the Arctic territories, and vice versa. The Northern Sea Route is not only about transport issues, it is inextricably linked to what is mined and processed in the Arctic territories. It should also be beneficial and interesting for foreign partners," Andrey Chibis emphasized.
According to him, it is possible to develop the NSR only if there is a comprehensive long-term project with the status of a national one. Andrey Chibis recalled that Murmansk is the world's largest ice–free port in the Arctic Circle, which is strategic in the face of an escalating foreign policy situation. The world's only nuclear icebreaking fleet and the Northern Fleet of the Red Banner Order of Ushakov are based here, which means that the development of the Northern Sea Route is a matter of national security.
"The port of Murmansk is one of the TOP 5 ports in Russia in terms of cargo transshipment volumes. With the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, we are implementing large-scale projects aimed at its development. So, in 2023, the President opened the workers' movement as part of the Murmansk Transport Hub project, and the Lavna coal transshipment complex is ready for launch, the first port built in the Murmansk Region since the Soviet era," said Andrey Chibis.
According to the head of the region, the prospects for the development of the port of Murmansk are huge. But at the same time, it requires the adoption of a number of necessary decisions that will ensure stable and progressive development.
The governor listed them:
1. Development of short- and long-distance railway approaches to the port of Murmansk. After the completion of the project "Integrated development of the Murmansk transport hub", the carrying capacity will amount to 45 million tons per year. We can already see that cargo traffic can reach 100 million tons per year. The adoption of this decision will make it possible to implement a number of projects to increase the cargo turnover of the port of Murmansk with a wide range of cargoes.
2. Creation of the necessary energy infrastructure for the implementation of port projects.
3.Meeting the need for a cargo and dredging fleet. It is necessary to make a decision on the creation of the necessary shipbuilding facilities in Murmansk. The city of Murmansk and the port have all the necessary prerequisites for the creation of such production, which is critically important for the further development of the NSR. All activities should be included in a comprehensive project for the development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, which in the future may become a national project.
Andrey Chibis thanked his colleagues for their unanimity on the need to develop the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and the Northern Sea Route.
"I would like to say a special sincere thank you to all the labor collectives that work in our harsh conditions, because the development of the Arctic is your undisputed merit," the governor stressed.
Igor Levitin, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the field of transport, Deputy Chairman of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation, thanked Governor Andrey Chibis, his team and Rosatom State Corporation for the excellent organization of the forum.
"The Northern Sea Route is the future of global logistics. Our task is to make it convenient, comfortable and affordable, because it is a competitor to other sea routes. The development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route is an absolute priority of our country for the coming decades. It is important that we all understand the importance of this strategic development and consolidate to make effective decisions," Igor Levitin emphasized.
"Within the framework of the Maritime Board, at the initiative of the governors and representatives of shipping companies, we have begun discussions on new approaches to the formation of the NSR development project. The struggle for the Arctic is serious, and it will grow, so it is necessary to ensure safety, a comfortable environment for people to live in, and conditions for investors to want to come to the Arctic. For the long–term development of the NSR, a long–term comprehensive project with state support should be adopted, which would incorporate the work of various institutions, structures and even states, so that investors and everyone who can somehow contribute to the development of the Arctic, a unique strategic region of our country, would believe in it," said the head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation. Federation for National Maritime Policy Sergey Vakhrukov.
Venkat Naga Prasanna Telidevara, Joint Secretary of the National Security Council of the Republic of India, said that his country can also contribute to the development of the NSR and make its development progressive.
"There are already transport projects from Mumbai to St. Petersburg and back for the movement of goods: this route provides India and Russia with access to world markets. There is also a route between Chennai and Vladivostok, which supplies India with LNG, which our country needs very much. This route connects to the NSR and forms a long corridor, which is beneficial for all partners who participate in mutually beneficial trade in hydrocarbons," said Venkat Naga Prasanna Telidevara.
Let us remind you that this year the International Arctic Forum is taking place under the sign of the 500th anniversary of the existence of the concept of the Northern Sea Route, starting from the compilation of the first draft map of the Northern Sea Route. The development of this transport highway is a strategic priority. The key role is played by the implementation of the Northern Sea Route Development Plan for the period up to 2035, which combines over 150 measures aimed at developing transport infrastructure. The NSR will become a driver of Arctic development in the next decade. Freight traffic along the NSR is growing every year, by 2030 it should exceed 100 million tons per year, and by 2035 – 150 million tons per year. In 2024, 37.9 million tons of cargo were transported. In 2022-2024, 8 subsidized coastal voyages were performed along the Northern Sea Route, 58.1 thousand tons of cargo were transported.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /