New terminal strengthens Norilsk Nickel
Mining and metallurgy giant Norilsk Nickel intends to complete the upgrade of its new port terminal in Murmansk by 2011. That will further boost the company’s ability to handle logistical operations in the region without assistance from other companies.
During his visit to the Kola Peninsula last week, General Director Vladimir Strzhalkovsky confirmed that the port areas in Murmansk, which the company acquired in 2004, are quickly being modernized. In late 2010, the port terminal will be able to handle all the company’s loading operations in the area, MBnews.ru reports.
That will further boost the independence of the company. From before, Norilsk Nickel has built its own fleet of ice-class cargo vessels which can operate without icebreakers on the route between Taimyr and the Kola Peninsula.
The port areas in Murmansk were bought from a local shipyard in 2004. They were first planned used for container shipping. However, the company in 2008 reconsidered and is now instead developing terminal capacities in the area. The new terminal as well as an upgrade of the adjacent railway infrastructure will be ready by the end of 2010, the company maintains.
That will make the company less dependent on the services of the Murmansk Sea Trade Port, a port which itself might soon face upcoming changes. As reported yesterday by BarentsObserver, the trade port is one of the companies on the Russian state privatization list for 2010. The state currently owns 34 percent of the Murmansk Sea Trade Port.
During his visit to Murmansk, Mr. Strzhalkovsky also said that Norilsk Nickel has decided to construct an ice-class tanker, MBnews writes.
