Meeting with Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis

The Governor started his report by presenting master plans for the region's three backbone cities and mentioned renovation of restricted-access territories [ZATOs] to secure the President's support for the region in its effort to deliver on these important undertakings.

With due regard to the Presidential instructions, the list of backbone cities includes three metropolitan areas: the Murmansk metropolitan area with Murmansk and Severomorsk, which is home to the Northern Fleet, the Kirovsk-Apatity metropolitan area, and the Monchegorsk metropolitan area. Over 70 percent of the region's population is concentrated in these cities. The region listened to its residents and factored their views into these master plans. There were also thorough opinion surveys and strategic sessions.

The Governor noted that developing the Northern Sea Route and ensuring security in the Arctic are the main objectives for the Murmansk metropolitan area. As far as investment is concerned, the plan focuses on dealing with sea-related matters, the unfreezing Kola Bay, and ensuring unhindered access to the World Ocean. This also includes the development of the Northern Sea Route, building up port capacity, developing ship maintenance and repair capabilities and fisheries, and also everything connected to liquefied natural gas.

In order to retain the workforce the region needs to carry out these projects, it has several important topics on its agenda dealing with housing, urban development, education, research and healthcare.

The Governor also mentioned several projects, including new Rosatom projects to create a dedicated shipyard for building floating nuclear stations. The region also plans to complete the project to build a new port in Lavna for coal shipments before the year is out, as well as to work with the Federal Agency for Fishery on upgrading the Murmansk fishing port after it was taken back into state ownership. There is also a project to build a port in cooperation with Belarus. Answering the President's question about the Belarus project, Andrei Chibis Chibis AndreiGovernor of Murmansk Regionreported that the region has allocated land plots and is now working with the Government on clearances and expanding railway capacity. He reassured the President that he would seek his support if any challenges arise down the road. Vladimir Putin noted that there was a lot of red tape in both Russia and Belarus and promised to raise these matters with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko Lukashenko AlexanderPresident of Belarus, if necessary.

As for the Murmansk Transport Hub, the first stage of its construction with a throughput capacity of 45 million tonnes has been completed, and the project pipeline provides for an added capacity of 110 million tonnes. Andrei Chibis emphasised that improving accessibility by rail is a strategic matter, but the bottlenecks were located outside of the Murmansk Region. The region is working with Russian Railways and the Government, and there have been intense debates on this matter, but this task is crucial for the development of the Northern Sea Route.

To be continued.