Rosatom to integrate two federal projects related to NSR into single ‘year-round Northern Sea Route’ project by April

MOSCOW. Feb 9 (Interfax) – The Russian government is considering merging the activities of two federal projects for the development of the Northern Sea Route into one “year-round Northern Sea Route” federal project.

Rosatom has been instructed to ensure the integration of the two federal projects by March 30: “Development of the Northern Sea Route” (implemented as part of the plan to modernize and expand the mainline infrastructure) and “Northern Sea Route – 2030”, according to the minutes of a meeting chaired First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov which were seen by Interfax.

Rosatom confirmed the order to Interfax.

“A total of 1.457 trillion rubles is due to be allocated from the federal budget and extra-budgetary funds for the development of the Northern Sea Route through 2030,” Rosatom’s communications department told Interfax.

“There are plans to allocate 268 billion rubles from the federal budget and about 80 billion rubles in extra-budgetary funds through 2024. Funding through 2030 has increased through extra-budgetary sources to about 841 billion rubles. There are plans to allocate 265 billion rubles from the budget through 2030,” Rosatom said.

Also, given the increase in the planning horizon from 2024 to 2030, new activities have been added that were not previously included in federal projects. For example, a single platform for digital services on the NSR, the development of a transit container line, the construction of additional nuclear icebreakers and LNG-powered icebreakers, the construction of federal property at the Nagleynyn terminal at the port of Pevek and several others, the state corporation said.

As such, the new federal project includes measures to build new Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers, including the 5th and 6th series vessels, as well as the construction of nuclear service ships for icebreakers Project 22220, the Lider-class nuclear icebreaker, four LNG-powered icebreakers, ice-rated rescue, survey and cargo ships (including container ships), Rosatom said.

As reported, Rosatom plans to expand the line of Project 22220 icebreakers with two new vessels and is working on the construction of LNG-powered icebreakers. The corporation earlier estimated the cost of building two new Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers at 120 billion rubles.

The single “year-round Northern Sea Route” also includes projects for construction of transshipment complexes in the Murmansk Region and the Primorye territory, putting into operation of four floating power units for the Baimsky GOK, carrying out navigation and hydrographic surveys of the NSR offshore area, as well as construction of federal property facilities in the Sever port (PJSC Rosneft), “Yenisei” (North Star LLC, AEON holding), the Nagleynyn terminal at the port Pevek (JSC GDK Baimskaya), and the Utrenny terminal at the port of Sabetta (PJSC NOVATEK ), development of a satellite constellation and a unified platform of digital services.

In October, the Russian government approved a list of 42 socio-economic development initiatives through 2030, which included the “year-round Northern Sea Route” project. The key results of the project include the growth of cargo traffic along the NSR to more than 80 million tons by 2024, as well as ensuring year-round navigation along the eastern vector and cargo traffic of 150 million tonnes by 2030.

The project includes measures to build a new Arctic fleet, to develop port infrastructure, create a satellite constellation to ensure uninterrupted communication and navigation, and create a unified digital platform of services for ship operators.

The original press release can be found at Interfax.com.