Russia and China intend to increase mutual cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route to 50 million tonnes per year by 2030

MOSCOW. Oct 19. (Interfax) - Russia and China intend to increase mutual cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to at least 50 million tonnes per year by 2030, the Russian government said in a statement following Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak's working visit to China.

"The parties outlined steps to increase the transit potential of the Northern Sea Route with the prospect of expanding cargo traffic along this route between the countries to at least 50 million tonnes per year by 2030," the statement says.

Earlier, in March 2023, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow and Beijing are ready to create a joint working body for the development of the Northern Sea Route.

The NSR is the shortest water route between the European part of Russia and the Far East. The length of the route from the Kara Gate to Provideniya Bay is about 5,600 km. The volume of cargo transported via the NSR in 2022 totaled 34 million tonnes.

As reported, the Russian President set the task of increasing cargo turnover on the route to 80 million tonnes in 2024. Over the past few years, a number of important government decisions have been made to promote the activation of hydrocarbon projects along the NSR, as well as the development of infrastructure and fleet on the route. There is a plan for the development of the Northern Sea Route through 2035 with total funding of almost 1.8 trillion rubles.

Representatives of Russian authorities emphasized that the NSR, which is 30% shorter than the route through the Suez Canal, could become a new international transport alternative, and that Russia is ready for international partnerships in the development of the route.

Since 2018, Rosatom has been the infrastructure operator of the Northern Sea Route and is responsible for the organization of shipping, the construction of infrastructure facilities, navigation and hydrographic support, as well as the navigation safety system in difficult Arctic conditions.