The transport hub continues to be a top priority for the Russian Arctic region, despite the major setback, which followed Gazprom’s Shtokman project postponement announced in August 2012.
Tuesday’s meeting in Moscow was of key importance for the regional government, which is fighting hard to secure continued federal support for the project. As recently reported, Moscow appears to show a fading interest in the Arctic project.
In her meeting with the Premier, Governor Kovtun highlighted several issues related with the transport hub, among them the development of power supply to the various industrial objects and port facilities planned in the area.
According to the governor, a 330 KWh electrical power substation will have to be built in order to provide the power needed. The Federal Grid Company and the Ministry of Energy should be requested to take on the job, she told Medvedev, a press release from the regional government reads.
The development of the transport hub includes the construction of a railway line along the western shore of the Kola Bay. Several industrial objects are subsequently to be built in the area, among them a coal terminal. The line will run across militarized and closed lands.
As previously reported, a decree on development of the Murmansk Transport Hub project was signed by then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in December 2008. The project is planned to be financed with 66 billion RUB (€1,6 billion) over the federal budget, while Russian Railways are ready to invest another 41 billion RUB (€1 billion) on new branch railways in the harbor area.
