The version for the print

  • 2014 July 31

    Opening the Northern gate


    Rosneft and ExxonMobil have made an efficient start in a sprint for the western Arctic fields development. Just the other day the first vessel called at the Murmansk based new oil terminal of Karmorneftegaz, a JV between the two companies. After a meeting Rosneft President Igor Sechin and Murmansk region Governor it was decided to create on a base of Murmansk State Technical University the so-called the Arctic Competency Centre.

    Rush for the Arctic riches

    As two informed sources told IAA PortNews a new terminal based on the western shore of the Kola Bay of Karmorneftegaz (a JV of Rosneft and ExxonMobil) on July 28, 2014 received the first tanker.

    The Acting Governor of the Murmansk region Marina Kovtun added that Rosneft has already begun to direct preparation of exploratory drilling in the Kara Sea. Drilling the first exploration well in the Universitetskaya structure of VostochnoPrinovozemelskiy Block-1 in the Kara Sea it scheduled to commence in August 2014.

    Rosneft plans to place at in Murmansk region for offshore projects in the western Arctic not only a major supply shore base (at the 82th Dockyard), but also facilities for manufacture of underwater fittings, concrete blocks, heliport on several dozens of aircraft and the logistics / warehousing / transshipment base. For training of qualified personnel necessary for the projects, the regional government in conjunction with Rosneft will create at Murmansk State Technical University the Arctic Competencies Centre.

    This issue has been discussed recently by Rosneft's Igor Sechin and the acting Governor Marina Kovtun at a meeting in Murmansk.

    "Kola Bay harbour and adjoining coastline will become the main base for the Arctic shelf development. This will require a large number of personnel. We will ensure the implementation of all these tasks," said Marina Kovtun, emphasizing that Rosneft had set aside funds for these large-scale projects.

    The construction on the territory of the 82th Dockyard with available specialists will require creation over the next few year of about 2000 new jobs largely for the Murmansk region residents.

    "Implementation of Rosneft's large-scale projects creates the preconditions for the economic stability of the region. All related industry sectors will be ginve a powerful impetus to the development. We understand our responsibility in this project, its importance for the region and the country as a whole," Igor Sechin was quoted as saying.

    The offshore projects of Rosneft are not the only ones in the maritime domain of the Murmansk region. As part of the integrated development of the Murmansk transport hub Kuzbasrazrezugol, a private investor, is building a coal handling terminal “Sea Port Lavna” on the western shore of the Kola Bay. The coal terminal estimated annual capacity is 18 million tonnes.

    Previously Russian President Vladimir Putin commenting the coal terminal project said that "this will help our miners, because it gives them additional shipments availability, but this is also an environmental project."

    To access the terminals on the western shore of the Kola Bay a new railway line will be built, including two railway stations and the railway bridge across the Kola Bay. The Russian president and the government had supported the project funding.
    So, the development of port and supporting infrastructure in the Murmansk region provides the basis for rapid economic development of the region in the near future, will generate thousands of new jobs and increase the attractiveness of the area for investment and suitable for habitation.

    Vitaly Chernov

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