Русский
The Russian government is to expand the Arctic Sabetta seaport in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) for the construction of a cargo terminal. The new terminal will be able to receive 1.6 million tonnes of various cargo per annum and contribute to the development of the Northern Sea Route.
Sabetta seaport will include an artificial land plot that will be adjacent to the Gydan Peninsula. Plans include a cargo terminal, which will mainly be used to develop the nearby oil and gas condensate field. However the terminal will be able to accept a wide variety of cargo. Ships with the necessary conditions for handling Arctic seas will use the port.
At the moment, the project to create an artificial land plot and build a cargo terminal on it is at the development stage. Direct work on the site should begin in mid-2026.
The construction of a new cargo terminal will contribute to the development of the seaport of Sabetta and will increase cargo turnover along the Northern Sea Route, the shortest water route between the European part of Russia and the Far East.
Under the current sanctions, the Northern Sea Route is becoming a priority transport corridor for Russia, since it passes entirely within its waters and, as a result, is little dependent on logistics restrictions imposed by other countries. However, use is limited by other factors such as a short navigation period and the need to use a special icebreaker fleet.
At the end of last year, 36 million tonnes of cargo were transported along the Northern Sea Route. By the end of 2024, cargo flows on the transport corridor should increase to 80 million tonnes, with Sabetta developed as a key cargo hub.
Further Reading
Russia and the Northern Sea Route
The Northern Sea Route development plans are extensively discussed in our 2024 Russia’s Pivot to Asia guide. This is a complimentary download and can be accessed in English here and Russian here.
