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Rosatom Maps Long-Term Growth for Arctic Trade Route

2025-04-03

At the VI International Arctic Forum: ""The Arctic – the Territory of Dialogue"", Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom unveiled its long-term vision for the development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) — a key transportation corridor linking Europe and Asia through the Arctic.

During a session on the “Long-Term Development Model for the NSR,” Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, emphasized the importance of forward-looking planning to handle rising cargo demands. He highlighted that the NSR saw a record 38 million tons of cargo in 2024, and projections suggest future traffic could reach hundreds of millions of tons, necessitating a significant expansion of icebreaker and cargo fleet capacity.

“Today we have 11 icebreakers, including eight nuclear-powered vessels,” Likhachev said. “But to meet future demands, we must scale up to 15–17 icebreakers and significantly expand our cargo fleet through international cooperation, especially with countries that have advanced shipbuilding expertise.”

In addition to logistics, Rosatom called for creating favorable economic conditions for Arctic transport. Likhachev advocated for 30-year planning cycles and emphasized the need to make icebreaker services and cargo logistics cost-effective to support commercial viability despite challenging Arctic conditions.

Vladimir Panov, Rosatom’s Special Representative for Arctic Development, pointed out the growing collaboration with India and China, citing regular container traffic and new intergovernmental partnerships that began last year. “This is no longer occasional cooperation — it's systematic and growing,” he noted.

On the human capital front, Rosatom addressed the need for a skilled Arctic workforce. Tatyana Terentyeva, Deputy Director General for HR, announced that Rosatom currently employs around 10,000 people in the Arctic, with plans to double that by 2035, particularly as projects like Kola NPP-2 and new power plants come online. The company is investing in education and vocational training programs under initiatives like “Professionalitet” to support this workforce expansion.

Urban planning in Arctic cities was also a topic of focus. Marina Kirdakova, Director of Regional Cooperation, shared how Rosatom is developing master plans for “nuclear” cities like Polyarnye Zori, where population growth is expected to surge by 60 per cent due to ongoing nuclear projects. The company is integrating housing, education, and social infrastructure planning into long-term construction roadmaps.

Rosatom also spotlighted efforts to develop tourism in Arctic regions. Anna Zhigulskaya, who leads the company’s internal communications and CSR, introduced the ""Hospitable Cities of Rosatom"" program. It aims to revitalize Arctic cities like Pevek, Bilibino, and Polyarnye Zori, making them more attractive for residents and visitors alike by boosting hospitality, leisure, and cultural initiatives alongside Rosatom’s industrial footprint."