Rosatom State Corporation and Novatek plan to start navigating the eastern section of the Northern Sea Route all the year round since 2024, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said in a meeting of RF President Vladimir Putin with the Government.
“I would like to inform you that together with NOVATEK we are set to launch year-round navigation in the eastern part of the Northern Sea Route early next year. This is a truly historic decision, which is crucial for the development of the entire Arctic region and particularly important for our country’s economy,” the Kremlin press office quotes Likhachev as saying.
Likhachev reminded that freight traffic by the Norther Sea Route reached 34 mn tons last year, which is 2 mn tons more that the target. Shipments by Russian companies increased by 1 mn tons compared to 2021. The objectives for this year are even higher – 36 mn tons.
“We are working with the Ministry and shippers to reach this ambitious target. I would like to note that the embargo introduced by some European countries on the shipment of oil and oil products has become more than just a challenge, it has opened a new window of opportunity for creating an additional cargo shipping base on the NSR”, Likhachev said.
He added that the Corporation is working with Russian companies on redirecting Russian oil from Baltic ports through the NSR as the safest and most attractive route. “Thanks to the NSR, we have the opportunity to transfer many sea shipping activities from the West to the East,” Likhachev said.
Photo: Rosatom