Dmitry Kobylkin: One ruble invested in arctic projects attracts other fifteen

The President of Russia set the goal to increase the amount of cargo base being transported on the Northern Sea Route up to 80 million tonnes by 2024. The Minister of natural resources and ecology of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kobylkin believes that the cargo potential will not be limited to this figure.

“The cargo potential of the Northern Sea Route will not be limited to 80 million tonnes, I have no doubt. We have larger potential, and I think that the dynamics will be positive. We started from 5 million tonnes of cargo transshipment, and today we are reaching more than 35 million tonnes”, the Minister said in the interview with “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”.

According to him, the basic amount of cargoes is connected with the mineral raw material base in the Arctic. It is huge, but much depends on external markets, on prime cost of extraction and formation of the final product.

“Of course, it needs to help companies in the Arctic, it will be necessary to give state benefits, as it was done for the project “Yamal LNG” in terms of tax relief. The state should take upon itself creation of a part of infrastructure – dredging operations, forming of port infrastructure, aviation communication. All investments will be generously repaid. One ruble invested in arctic projects attracts other 15 rubles, this is a good proportion, which can be given by not many segments of economy”, Dmitry Kobylkin said.

At the same time, he believes that rapid development of the Northern Sea Route will not do any harm to ecology.

“We are focused on green fuel in the Arctic; we have unique nuclear-powered icebreakers that do not give a drop of fuel oil or a drop of emissions. The projects being implemented in the Arctic by NOVATEK, for example “Yamal LNG”, fully comply with international standards. And many foreign companies were amazed at how much Russia has moved forward in terms of technology and green fuel - liquefied natural gas, which practically does not do harm to the atmosphere”, Dmitry Kobylkin said.