Dear Mikhail Vladimirovich, dear colleagues!
First of all, what is the Arctic for the Russian Federation?
Rich hydrocarbon deposits create conditions for the development of projects of global significance. Every 6th ruble of Russia's GDP is created in the Arctic. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the Northern Sea Route, essentially the second route from Europe to Asia. Arctic territories play a major role in the global security system.
At the same time, the development of the Arctic is facing a large number of challenges. The average annual temperature beyond the Arctic Circle is -7°C. The heating season is 1.5 times longer than in the rest of Russia. The polar night reigns in the Arctic for 2 months. High costs for electricity production, a population density 2 times lower than even in the Far East - the combination of these and other factors requires courage, patience and fortitude from people living in high latitudes.
In order to accelerate the development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation, the Russian Government adopted the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and Ensuring National Security for the Period up to 2035 on October 26, 2020. In implementing the strategy, we opened 3 Arctic priority development areas, created the largest special economic zone, introduced the Arctic hectare and mortgage regime. In 2023, the Law on Northern Delivery was adopted. The list of support points was approved. Much work still needs to be done. First of all, in terms of creating the infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route. In total, 13 Federal Laws and 7 Decrees of the President of Russia have been adopted to provide regulatory support for activities in the Arctic.
What are the actual results of this work?
568 billion rubles of private investment have been invested in the Arctic. 242 enterprises have been commissioned. 16 thousand jobs have been created. Such companies as Novatek, Gazprom, Norilsk Nickel, Lukoil, Eurochem, Polymetal and others are actively working in the Arctic. As I have already said, the Northern Sea Route project is the most important for the development of the Arctic. In essence, it connects the Arctic regions and creates conditions for their further economic development.
On August 1, 2022, the Government, on behalf of the President, approved the NSR Development Plan until 2025. It provides for almost 150 projects with a total capital investment of more than 1.7 trillion rubles. The Government is working to implement the Plan. Icebreakers, auxiliary vessels, ports and terminals are being built. A satellite constellation is being created.
At the same time, I cannot help but mention the unresolved problems.
First. The cost of loans, the high share of Rosatom resources used in financing new icebreakers when calculating the economic model for the operation of the NSR makes icebreaker support tariffs uncompetitive.
Second. With a deficit of ice-class cargo fleet of at least 70 vessels, the capacity of Russian shipyards allows only 16 to be built by 2030.
Third. Sources of financing for the Northern Latitudinal Passage project, a railway to the Western transport and logistics hub in the Murmansk region, have not been determined.
There is a shortage of funding for the construction of satellites, centers for the placement of Emergencies Ministry units, and the creation of an environmental monitoring system.
In addition to all that has been said, I would like to add that the interest of a number of countries in the NSR route, their desire to obtain the opportunity for unimpeded transportation along the route and influence the situation on the Arctic coast of the Russian Federation are becoming increasingly pronounced.
All these challenges, in my opinion, create the need to strengthen work on the development of the Arctic zone.
Thank you for your attention!