Konstantin Zaytsev, Vice Chairman of State Duma Energy Committee

– Russia is indisputable leader in the field of nuclear icebreaking fleet

In the coming years Russia is planning to significantly increase its cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route in line with its plans to develop its Arctic and Far Eastern regions, says Minister of Transport of Russia Igor Levitin. Russia’s icebreaking fleet has sufficient capacities for ensuring effective traffic along the route. Additional capacities will be created in the framework of the plan to build by 2020 six powerful nuclear icebreakers with reactors of new type. These vessels will be operated to Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation but the cargo traffic will be coordinated by the Ministry of Transport.

Russia is indisputable leader in the field of nuclear icebreaking fleet. Today, we are facing a critical situation as our nuclear icebreakers are mostly worn out. In order to retain our leadership in this sphere, especially now that we are planning to develop northern gas and oil deposits, we must build new nuclear icebreakers. The construction of six new vessels will guarantee Russia’s leadership in the northern region and will seriously contribute to the development of the Russian Far East.