Heading North: Russia Thawing One and a Half Century Project
In Russia, they decided to revive the project, which is already more than a century and a half. This is a port in the village of Indiga, Nenets Autonomous Okrug. All project documentation should be ready by the end of this year, and construction will begin in 2021.
For the first time, the idea of building a port on the shores of the Barents Sea was discussed after the Crimean War in 1853. Then the project was remembered exactly on the eve of the collapse of the Russian Empire. And, finally, in 1938 they started talking about him in the Soviet Union, but things didn’t go further than good wishes.
But why did they return to the idea of building a port for many decades? The thing is that the village of Indiga is located in a very interesting place. The depth near the coast in the local bay reaches 18 meters, which allows receiving tankers up to 100 thousand tons. At the same time, ships will not need costly escort of icebreakers, since the influence of the warm Gulf Stream spreads here. As a result, the port in this place could become the starting point for the Northern Sea Route.
But there is a serious snag. You can get to the village only by water or by air. Therefore, in order for the construction of the port to make sense, the railway needed to be brought to the village of Indiga, and this is more than 1000 km of tracks in extremely difficult polar conditions. There were 2 relevant projects: Barentscom and Belkomur. However, the state did not have resources for the construction of such highways at that time.
Today the situation has changed dramatically. Existing ports in Russia can not cope with the flow of goods. Therefore, over the past few years we have been rapidly building new and modernizing old harbors. But with the current growth in production, we still do not have time and we have to use the services of neighbors from the Baltic states.
That is why the one and a half century project today has become more than relevant. The port has received the prospect of self-sufficiency even taking into account the construction of the aforementioned railway tracks. In addition, at the end of last year, the government supported the construction of both highways.
Thus, a unique port in the village of Indiga can be built within 5-7 years. This construction will become another growth point for our North, and will also contribute to the further development of foreign trade. In turn, the inhabitants of Indigo cut off from the outside world and the settlements adjacent to the new railways will receive a new life.
For the first time, the idea of building a port on the shores of the Barents Sea was discussed after the Crimean War in 1853. Then the project was remembered exactly on the eve of the collapse of the Russian Empire. And, finally, in 1938 they started talking about him in the Soviet Union, but things didn’t go further than good wishes.
But why did they return to the idea of building a port for many decades? The thing is that the village of Indiga is located in a very interesting place. The depth near the coast in the local bay reaches 18 meters, which allows receiving tankers up to 100 thousand tons. At the same time, ships will not need costly escort of icebreakers, since the influence of the warm Gulf Stream spreads here. As a result, the port in this place could become the starting point for the Northern Sea Route.
But there is a serious snag. You can get to the village only by water or by air. Therefore, in order for the construction of the port to make sense, the railway needed to be brought to the village of Indiga, and this is more than 1000 km of tracks in extremely difficult polar conditions. There were 2 relevant projects: Barentscom and Belkomur. However, the state did not have resources for the construction of such highways at that time.
Today the situation has changed dramatically. Existing ports in Russia can not cope with the flow of goods. Therefore, over the past few years we have been rapidly building new and modernizing old harbors. But with the current growth in production, we still do not have time and we have to use the services of neighbors from the Baltic states.
That is why the one and a half century project today has become more than relevant. The port has received the prospect of self-sufficiency even taking into account the construction of the aforementioned railway tracks. In addition, at the end of last year, the government supported the construction of both highways.
Thus, a unique port in the village of Indiga can be built within 5-7 years. This construction will become another growth point for our North, and will also contribute to the further development of foreign trade. In turn, the inhabitants of Indigo cut off from the outside world and the settlements adjacent to the new railways will receive a new life.
Information