Director General of ROSATOM Alexei Likhachev took part in the Northern Sea Route: New Challenges session at SPIEF 2023.
The session highlighted the new significance of the Northern Sea Route as the most important transport route connecting the vast Arctic territories of Russia, as well as the North-West and the Far East of the country. Last year, the Northern Sea Route opened a new window of opportunity for the development of Russian territories and strengthening of partnerships with friendly countries.
“The aim of the global logistics has always been a balance of safety, sustainability and efficiency. However certain events of recent years as well as of present days have been changing world logistics. Given such a situation, safety and sustainability are becoming obvious priorities. The NSR is becoming a unique new route, and we see, especially considering the current situation, a very great potential for cooperation with friendly countries in the development of transit cargo traffic, and moreover we are already taking the relevant actions,” said Alexei Likhachev.
The NSR has got a development impetus due to mining, infrastructure, and logistics projects. In the last decade, the fundamental changes have taken place thanks to the projects of Norilsk Nickel, Novatek, Gazprom Neft, that built a high Arctic class fleet making the Northern Sea Route efficient and safe, year-round navigation has been organized in the NSR western part since such vessels are able to navigate without an icebreaker assistance in certain ice conditions.
Arctic projects are being implemented in accordance with the plan. The next stage in the development of the Northern Sea Route is year-round navigation in the Eastern Sector. “By now, the NSR year-round icebreaking and transport system has been formed in the Kara Sea, which first of all ensures the development of the Russian Arctic. At the beginning of 2024, a historic event will take place which is Novatek’s regular eastward year-round voyages, the navigation will become year-round along all 5,600 km of the NSR water area," said Alexei Likhachev.
Background:
In 2018, ROSATOM was appointed as an operator of the Northern Sea Route infrastructure and since that time it has been in charge of the NSR navigation organization, infrastructure facilities construction, navigation and hydrographic support, as well as the navigation safety system in harsh Arctic environment.
The XXVI St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is one of the most large-scaled and significant business events in the world. Over 25 years, the forum has gained the status of a leading international platform for discussion of key issues of the global economy and exchange of the best international practices and competencies in order to ensure the sustainable development. The SPIEF is held annually, starting from 1997. Since 2005, the forum is held under the aegis and with partnership of the President of the Russian Federation.