Murmansk nickel
Norilsk Nickel GMK plans to complete construction of the first stage of terminal in Murmansk port by 2012. The terminal is designed for transhipment of metal delivered by the company from Dudinka and of commercial cargoes from Europe. The assumed terminal capacity is 1.5 mln tons of metal annually. The company predicts most part of the cargo will be transhipped in containers. The project cost amounts to RUR1.3 bln.
As PortNews IAA learnt from Nornickel press-service, company’s plans on creation of own terminal in Murmansk port were publicly announced last week in the course of Vladimir Strazhalkovskiy’s visit (CEO and Head of Administration of Norilsk Nickel GMK) to Murmansk.
In October current year Nornickel announced on increase of volumes of self-handled industrial and commodity cargo at the company’s berths located in Murmansk port (where Murmansk transport branch of metallurgical holding operates) to be shipped to Dudinka and Norilsk. The company has its own dockers, machine operators employed, as well as handling equipment, warehouses for containers storage at its dispose necessary for prompt work at a marine terminal in the territory of the port.
Murmansk transport terminal areas were bought out in 2004 from Murmansk Shiprepair Yard after which their renovation as a container terminal was commenced. In 2008 the renovation project was put on hold. In 2009 a number of handling operations was carried out. Crane units are delivered to Nornickel areas in the port, a schedule of the railway part of the terminal renovation (which is planned to be renovated by autumn, 2010) and of special equipment procurement were worked out to the date. Dockers’ working places will be created next year. Full-scale work is planned to be started at the marine terminal Q III-IV, 2010.
‘Murmansk transport terminal has great potential; we will manage the financial issue remained. Estimated assessments to regional and municipal budgets together with insignificant increase of incomes from Kola GMK went up by RUR 1.7 bln current year against 2008 due to the terminal development. These are mainly estate taxes – vessels accredited by Murmansk port were added,’ explained Vladimir Strzhalkovskiy.
It is suffice to remind that Murmansk port boundaries have been recently set and agreed taking into consideration its development due to new terminals. It is planned to construct a new port and railway infrastructure in Murmansk port and west part of Kola Bay under the Federal target program ‘Russian transportation system development, 2010-2015’. In particular, Murmansk transportation joint development project provides for construction of a maritime container terminal of 1 mln TEUs annual cargo throughput capacity, a coal transhipment complex on the west shore of Kola Bay in the Lavna river area (annual capacity - 18 mln tons) and development of a coal terminal on east shore of Kola Bay (up to 12 mln tons annual capacity), of a crude oil loading terminal on the west shore of Kola Bay (35 mln tons annual capacity), of a new railway branch (27 km) along the west shore of the bay as well as creation of a specialized logistics center.
As per Alexandr Davydenko, Head of the Federal Marine and River Transport Agency, deep-water ice-free Murmansk port allows operating heavy-tonnage vessels that would directly proceed to the ports of Europe and North America, PortNews IAA reported earlier.
As per the opinion expressed by Alexandr Ignatyuk, analyst of IG Energocapital, if one speaks about the declared RUR 1 bln 300 mln investments into construction of Norilsk Nickel terminal in Murmansk port, it is not a substantial sum for the company to be afraid of serious risks. ‘Nornickel’s tending for vertical development can be positively evaluated especially under the announced plans on Murmansk transportation joint development project as the related infrastructure within the project will be created and renovated on the budget and budget-related funds which will allow significant reducing of terminal construction costs. Besides, entering the project at its initial stage is perspective as it will cost significantly more in the long run with Murmansk transportation joint being developed,’ Alexandr Ignatyuk commented on Nornickel’s plans in the interview with PortNews IAA.
Vitaliy Chernov
As PortNews IAA learnt from Nornickel press-service, company’s plans on creation of own terminal in Murmansk port were publicly announced last week in the course of Vladimir Strazhalkovskiy’s visit (CEO and Head of Administration of Norilsk Nickel GMK) to Murmansk.
In October current year Nornickel announced on increase of volumes of self-handled industrial and commodity cargo at the company’s berths located in Murmansk port (where Murmansk transport branch of metallurgical holding operates) to be shipped to Dudinka and Norilsk. The company has its own dockers, machine operators employed, as well as handling equipment, warehouses for containers storage at its dispose necessary for prompt work at a marine terminal in the territory of the port.
Nornickel, by all appearances, decided to develop a Murmansk branch into a full-rate stevedoring company by now. Unlike several years ago when Murmansk terminal GMK provided services only on goods transportation, it has 5 modern ice-class vessels to the date. A decision on building an ice-class tanker was made. ‘Due to development of works at Murmansk transport terminal GMK, we have considered the project of works modernization taking into consideration availability of Murmansk port areas owned by the company,’ explained Vladimir Strzhalkovskiy. ‘A decision on handling of goods to be carried out in perspective was made. It will reduce our costs and improve company’s stability.’
Murmansk transport terminal areas were bought out in 2004 from Murmansk Shiprepair Yard after which their renovation as a container terminal was commenced. In 2008 the renovation project was put on hold. In 2009 a number of handling operations was carried out. Crane units are delivered to Nornickel areas in the port, a schedule of the railway part of the terminal renovation (which is planned to be renovated by autumn, 2010) and of special equipment procurement were worked out to the date. Dockers’ working places will be created next year. Full-scale work is planned to be started at the marine terminal Q III-IV, 2010.
‘Murmansk transport terminal has great potential; we will manage the financial issue remained. Estimated assessments to regional and municipal budgets together with insignificant increase of incomes from Kola GMK went up by RUR 1.7 bln current year against 2008 due to the terminal development. These are mainly estate taxes – vessels accredited by Murmansk port were added,’ explained Vladimir Strzhalkovskiy.
It is suffice to remind that Murmansk port boundaries have been recently set and agreed taking into consideration its development due to new terminals. It is planned to construct a new port and railway infrastructure in Murmansk port and west part of Kola Bay under the Federal target program ‘Russian transportation system development, 2010-2015’. In particular, Murmansk transportation joint development project provides for construction of a maritime container terminal of 1 mln TEUs annual cargo throughput capacity, a coal transhipment complex on the west shore of Kola Bay in the Lavna river area (annual capacity - 18 mln tons) and development of a coal terminal on east shore of Kola Bay (up to 12 mln tons annual capacity), of a crude oil loading terminal on the west shore of Kola Bay (35 mln tons annual capacity), of a new railway branch (27 km) along the west shore of the bay as well as creation of a specialized logistics center.
As per Alexandr Davydenko, Head of the Federal Marine and River Transport Agency, deep-water ice-free Murmansk port allows operating heavy-tonnage vessels that would directly proceed to the ports of Europe and North America, PortNews IAA reported earlier.
More details on Murmansk transportation joint development project are provided in the interview with Alexandr Davyvenko on PortNews IAA site, Relevant Topics dated November 3, 2009.
As per the opinion expressed by Alexandr Ignatyuk, analyst of IG Energocapital, if one speaks about the declared RUR 1 bln 300 mln investments into construction of Norilsk Nickel terminal in Murmansk port, it is not a substantial sum for the company to be afraid of serious risks. ‘Nornickel’s tending for vertical development can be positively evaluated especially under the announced plans on Murmansk transportation joint development project as the related infrastructure within the project will be created and renovated on the budget and budget-related funds which will allow significant reducing of terminal construction costs. Besides, entering the project at its initial stage is perspective as it will cost significantly more in the long run with Murmansk transportation joint being developed,’ Alexandr Ignatyuk commented on Nornickel’s plans in the interview with PortNews IAA.
Vitaliy Chernov