In 2024-2027 Norilsk Nickel plans to invest more than 44 billion rubles in the development of its two large transport assets in the Arctic — the Murmansk and Polar transport branches. These branches are responsible for securing the Northern Sea Route, said Andrey Grachev, Vice President for Federal and Regional Programs at Nornickel, at the IX Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
The Murmansk branch of the company includes its own port terminal in Murmansk, the ARC-7 high ice class marine fleet, which consists of five bulk carriers and one tanker, as well as a port icebreaker. The Polar branch has its own terminal in the Dudinka seaport.
Norilsk Nickel is also investing in the development of the Northern Sea Route, renovation and reconstruction of housing and social facilities in the Arctic zone. The total budget of this project is 120 billion rubles.
According to the press service of Norilsk Nickel, since last year, traffic volumes have been declining due to geopolitical changes and sanctions imposed by “unfriendly” countries against Russia.
Last year, the company transported 1.9 million tons of cargo, in 2024 - 1.6 million tons. The volume of investments is due to the gradual increase in freight traffic along the Northern Sea Route after the recession caused by the actions of Western countries.
Before 2020, the volume of transported goods was about 1.4−1.6 million tons per year. In 2022, it peaked at 2.1 million tons. However, since 2023, this indicator has begun to decline due to geopolitical changes. As a result, in 2023, Norilsk Nickel transported 1.9 million tons of cargo, and by now in 2024 - 1.6 million tons.
In terms of investments related to cargo transportation, the company has concluded a long-term contract until 2041 for icebreaking support for the ship of the 22220 Siberia project.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
