Komi Republic and Arkhangelsk Oblast join, lobbying Belkomur project

The authorities of the Arkhangelsk region and Komi Republic, two Russian north regions are going to lobby in the Russian government international projects, Belkomur and construction of a deepwater port in Arkhangelsk. This will allow them boosting the development of their regions, "Komiinform" agency reported quoting industrial and transport ministers of the two regions Ernest Belokorovin and Konstantin Maltsev.

Belkomur project, as earlier reported, had been considered in late 2009 at a government commission, but was postponed indefinitely.

Belkomur is a railway line which may connect the regions of Siberia and the Urals to the port of Arkhangelsk. The new port projected in the bay area of Dry Sea, would be specializing in bulked cargoes, containers shipments, as well as ensuring cabotage services for the northern oil fields.

According to preliminary estimates, the new port could accommodate 70.000-ton DW vessels. Freight volumes via the port might be at 30 million tons a year, the cost of the project is reportedly at 50 billion rubles, including 5 billion rubles of funds from the state budget, and 36-46 billion rubles of private businesses investments. The construction period - 5 years. Project costs recovery - 8 years.