TASS, April 22. The Russian government plans to build up by 2030 the capacity of Arctic ports to 170 million tonnes. The current handling capacity is 33 million tonnes, First Deputy Minister for Development of the Far East and Arctic Gadzhimagomed Guseinov told a business form on Arctic ports.

"We plan to increase by more than 2.5 times the ports handling capacities by 2024 - from 33 million tonnes to 85 [million tonnes]," he said. "By 2030, we plan to have the Arctic ports’ capacity grow to 170 million tonnes. We are finalizing the construction of the Utrenniy terminal, and continue the construction of the Bukhta Sever port and the Yenisei terminal."

The Arctic needs more icebreakers, new sea terminals, satellite communication, a reliable access to the Internet, meteorology and ice radar systems. "The current icebreaker fleet is 6 vessels. Another four icebreakers are being built, including the Rossiya icebreaker. In order to have year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route by 2035, we must build additionally six icebreakers, two of which will be nuclear-powered," the official said.

The main condition to implement projects in the Arctic zone is to develop infrastructures of the Northern Sea Route, which "is a network uniting the Russian North," he continued.

"Our strategic task is to use it as a new transport corridor," he added. "In 2021, about 35 million tonnes have been transported along the Northern Sea Route.".