Industrial boom coming up in Murmansk
A number of new major industrial projects are coming up in Murmansk Oblast. In the course of the next few years, a LNG plant will be built, new ports constructed, new roads and infrastructure developed, pipelines laid and several huge mining projects put into production. See the list of regional industrial projects here
After more than twenty years of stagnation, Murmansk Oblast is again facing the development of huge industrial projects, newspaper Vecherny Murmansk reported last week. Among the industrial plans are big petroleum-related projects, as well as several major mining projects. All initiatives will need the development of surrounding infrastructure
Oil and gas
In the fishing village of Teriberka on the Barents Sea coast, a LNG plant for the Shtokman gas field will be built. From here gas will be shipped both to European and US. buyers. Teriberka will also see the construction of a new major port The Teriberka gas plant will be connected with a more than 500 km long sub-sea pipeline to installations at the field, as well as with 1600 km long pipeline stretching towards Volkhov on the Baltic Sea coast.
Along the Kola Bay outside the city of Murmansk, major new port facilities are planned. The western side of the bay will get a new railway and several new industrial plants, among them a new oil terminal, a refinery, a coal terminal and container terminal.
Minerals and metals
With regard to mining and metallurgy projects, a new titan and magnetite processing plant will be built south of Murmansk near Verkhnetulomsk. The plant is to start production within five years, and operated for at least 20 years.
In the area of Umbozero in the southern part of the peninsula, apatite ore from the “Olenii Ruchey” will be processed with a new plant. A new road and railway will link the field with existing infrastructure.
In addition, the Centrasia Mining Corp. has announced that drilling has started at its enormous Tsaga Platinum Group Metals prospect in the central parts of the peninsula. The Tsaga property covers two percent of the entire peninsula and the mining company has identified a potential zone of sulfide mineralization.
Also mining giant Barrick is planning to develop its Federova Tundra project, located south of the Tsaga Platinum Group Metals prospect.
Work force
The many industrial projects in the region will require new work force, currently not existing in the area. Official unemployment in Murmansk Oblast is less than four percent and both the oil industry and the mining and metallurgy companies will have to attract a significant number of new workers from outside.
