Rosatom’s top managers took part in the VI International Arctic Forum “The Arctic -the Territory of Dialogue”.
In particular, at the key session of the Forum on “Long-Term Development Model for the Northern Sea Route (the NSR)”, Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, spoke about the conditions needed to increase cargo traffic along the northern route. The main speakers of the session included: Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, Igor Levitin; Head of the Presidential Directorate for National Maritime Policy, Sergei Vakhrukov; Deputy Minister of Russia for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, Gadzhimagomed Guseinov; Governor of the Murmansk Region, Andrei Chibis; and Joint Secretary of the Secretariat of the National Security Council of India, Venkat Naga Prasanna Telidevara. They discussed the development of an economic model for the NSR operation, ways to improve predictability and efficiency of logistics in the NSR waters, and creation of mechanisms for international cooperation.
Alexey Likhachev emphasized the magnitude of the challenges associated with the NSR development, which are to be taken on in the coming years: “First of all, we need to ensure that there is cargo flow on the NSR. The volume of cargo has already amounted to tens of millions of tons with last year’s record nearly 38 million tons. Our northern deposits developers tell us to be prepared for hundreds of millions of tons. The sanctions are a great burden, indeed, affecting not only the area of technological equipment but also transportation, funding, and long-term contracts for the sale of resources extracted in the Arctic region. We are aware of this and we will act in accordance with the scenario. Now, as per the scenario, we need 11 icebreakers, which we already have (including eight nuclear icebreakers). We must move on to the next stage and plan 100 and 150 million tons and 15 to 17 icebreakers instead of 10 or 11. Therefore, we must construct them.
He also stressed the significance of international cooperation. “An icebreaker does not transport cargo, so we need a cargo fleet. I understand that we do not have enough capacity to meet the demand for cargo vessels in advance, and this is where international cooperation is necessary. We have a very good understanding of business on the international market. Now we are having discussions with several countries that are experts in shipbuilding. First of all, we need to develop a strategy for increasing capacity at our shipyards, but we also need international cooperation tools,” stated Alexey Likhachev.
