Russia Revives Projects Linking the Arctic to China
Russian projects in the Arctic are resurfacing as Moscow seeks to improve the region’s connectivity with China.
Russian officials have recently reaffirmed their intent to improve connectivity through a number of projects:
- Power of Baikal
- Power of Siberia
- Mohe–Naiba
Mohe–Naiba drew particular attention after the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). Following the signing at the EEF venue, the project, postponed repeatedly in recent years, has finally begun.
Construction Starts in Tiksi
In September, construction of the Naiba deep-water cargo terminal was launched at the seaport of Tiksi, according to TASS.
“With the support of [Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District] Yuri Petrovich Trutnev and the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, the Mohe–Naiba project has turned from an idea into a project we are beginning to implement in just a year and a half. I want to say that just the other day, the equipment for building the first berth of the Naiba deep-water port was landed, and work will begin next year so that by 2028 the first tens of thousands of tons will already be moving along this route,” said Aisen Nikolaev, head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).
Energy Cooperation
Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko also pointed to energy ties in an interview with the News.ru portal, quoted by TASS.
“Russia and China have also long had strong cooperation in the energy sector, and it grows stronger year after year. We confidently hold first place in oil and natural gas supplies to the PRC and are among the leaders in coal and LNG. The Power of Siberia gas pipeline is already operating at full capacity. The Power of Baikal project, which will become one of the largest gas arteries in history, is moving forward. Construction of the Far Eastern route for exporting ‘blue fuel’ to the PRC is underway,” he said.
According to Rudenko, Moscow maintains a “professional” dialogue with its Chinese friends.