Cargo turnover at Arctic ports to increase 2.8-fold by 2030
29 August 2012 

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Rosmorport finalized the "Strategy for the development of the sea port infrastructure in Russia to 2030.

By 2030, it is predicted that the baseline demand for liquid cargo handling in the ports of the Arctic basin will increase 2.8-fold to 113.1 million tonnes (up to 120.8 million according to experts). In particular, it will come from the Novatek terminal handling a LNG production capacity of 15 million tonnes per year in Yamal.

Ports of the Arctic basin will focus on the transfer of hydrocarbons produced in the Arctic shelf, as well as timber and mineral resources from the Russian North. The share of cargo handling in Arctic ports will increase substantially from the current 7.7% to 9.4-11.5% by 2030.

For their handling of fuel and energy resources (crude oil, petroleum products, coal, liquefied natural gas), Varandey and Kharasavey ports have been built and new ports in Sabetta and Teriberka are being constructed, the documents says.

The construction of new ports, and the revival of old Arctic ports in the Arctic basin will increase the current 81.7 million tonnes to 163.5 million tonnes (baseline scenario) or 135.2 million tonnes (expert scenario).

The new ports of Sabetta and Teriberka will increase port capacity by 60 million tonnes by 2020. The current capacity of the port of Murmansk will increase by 24 million tonnes due to the construction of the Lavna coal terminal. Another point of growth is the free economic zone of port type, based on the comprehensive development of the Murmansk Transport Hub, the strategy notes.

There are 19 Russian ports in the Arctic Basin. 14 Arctic ports are located in areas where there are no land communications and provide only a vital shipments for settlements, the document says. 5-50% of their capacity is used and there are no preconditions for increasing the cargo base and handling. In 2011, the ports of the Arctic basin recycled 41 million tons of cargo.