Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the development of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor.
“Following the results of the International Arctic Forum in March 2025, Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin instructed the Government to develop and approve a financial, economic and organizational model for the formation of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. A key section of the transport corridor is the Northern Sea Route. We have talked many times about how the Northern Sea Route can and should become the most important transport artery from Europe to Asia. Much work has been done to develop the Northern Sea Route. The volume of transit traffic increased from 2.1 million to 3.2 million tons, and the total volume of traffic in 2024 increased to almost 38 million tons. At the same time, the range of our cargo and, in fact, the points from which we send them are quite localized. This is LNG from the Novatek company, oil and oil products from the companies Gazprom Neft, Lukoil and NK Rosneft, cargo from the Norilsk Nickel company. In fact, the Northern Sea Route is not used for transporting goods located on the continental part of our country. To lift cargo to the Northern Sea Route, it is necessary to build railways, dredging, and most importantly, to understand the economy, determine the cargo base: what we can transport and what benefits these transportation will provide to the economy of our country. This work began in a number of regions. For example, the project “Ural Industrial – Ural Polar” was calculated. But this was quite a long time ago. In order to return to these tasks, the calculations need to be updated. This work must be continued. Another necessity, why we must do this, is that the Eastern range will not provide transportation of the required amount of cargo. To determine further directions and volumes of work along the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, today we will talk about the work that should be carried out by Russian Railways, Rosatom, the Federal Agency for Water Resources and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation located in the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor zone. and let’s try to figure out what we must do to fulfill the order of the President of the Russian Federation. The work is very big, but it will help us “sew together” the entire territory of Russia, create new conditions for its economic development,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.
Following the International Arctic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the updating of the Fundamentals and Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. The draft decree is currently being revised based on proposals from the Presidential Executive Office.
"The Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor and its key component, the Northern Sea Route, are a natural transport artery for the transportation of Arctic raw materials and manufactured goods. The formation and development of the transport corridor is interlinked with the achievement of national interests in the Arctic and includes the development of mineral resource centers, technological and industrial advancement, national security, and ensuring a high quality of life and well-being for the population," noted Alexey Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic.
The resource supply of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor's cargo base was discussed. Minerals and their derivatives are the foundation for the development of the Northern Sea Route and the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. Over the past 10 years (2014–2024), cargo traffic along the NSR increased from 4 million to almost 38 million tons. This year, it has already exceeded 35 million tons. Hydrocarbons, including LNG and gas condensate, oil, and petroleum products, account for 86% of the cargo transported. The combined share of iron ore concentrate, coal, and other bulk cargo does not exceed 3%. General and containerized cargo accounts for another 11%.
It was proposed to intensify geological exploration efforts, given the timeframe for field preparation. Also discussed was the creation of conditions for the development of deep processing, so that cargo transported along the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor would have greater added value.
It was proposed to include measures for the development of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor as a separate section within the unified plan for the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation, taking as a basis the updated measures implemented within the framework of the Northern Sea Route plan.
The agenda included issues related to the development of shipping and railways to support freight transportation along the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. According to Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin, the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor will be supported, among other things, through Russian seaports located west and east of the Northern Sea Route. The main ports of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor outside the Northern Sea Route are the Big Port of St. Petersburg, Ust-Luga, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Nakhodka, Vostochny, and Vladivostok. As part of the federal project "Development of the Backbone Network of Seaports" within the national project "Efficient Transport System," measures are planned to increase capacity by 2030: by 19.4 million tons at the seaport of Murmansk and by 17.8 million tons at the seaport of Vladivostok by 2030.
Rosatom, with the participation of federal executive bodies, including the Russian Ministry of Transport, is working within an interdepartmental working group to develop the range and volumes of cargo that could form the cargo base of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. Only after the cargo base is established and the corresponding cargo flows are identified will the Russian Ministry of Transport be able to prepare proposals, if necessary, for adjusting the federal project "Development of the Seaport Core Network" to create the necessary capacity at seaports.
A key element in the development of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor is the availability of a fleet capable of navigating Arctic waters. The demand for the number and types of vessels will depend on the projected cargo traffic along the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. To ensure reliable cargo transportation along the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, it is crucial to establish long-term vessel charter contracts tailored to specific cargo flows. Long-term time charter contracts will allow shipowners not only to attract vessels from the market over the long term but also to plan for vessel construction, including at Russian shipyards. Defining the cargo base for the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor will also enable the development of long-term plans for the infrastructure leading to the seaports of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, including roads and railways.
"Each ministry and agency must address issues within their area of competence. These competencies are divided by decisions of the President of the Russian Federation and the Russian Government. I also ask all governors present to prepare proposals for the development of the subarctic zone. A separate issue concerns attracting investors. A significant amount of work falls to the Ministry of Natural Resources: they need to review subsoil development and geological exploration. The Ministry of Industry and Trade must consider the depth of mineral processing. There is no way to continue focusing solely on raw materials development. The Ministry of Transport is the organization that provides logistics for the entire country. I believe the next point of our discussion will be the strategic session that the Prime Minister will hold in June. This is the event at which we have the full right and responsibility to present proposals for the development of the Transarctic Transport Corridor. The Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, the Ministry of Economic Development, and representatives of the scientific community must participate in this work. We need to calculate what we can transport, which goods will benefit the country's economy, and calculate the return on investment. "The work of developing the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor is extensive, it is significant for our country, and it requires us to go beyond the existing framework and look to the future, and we must accomplish it," Yuri Trutnev concluded the meeting.
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