Murmansk trapped in coal dust
A wind barrier at the coal harbour proved largely ineffective over the weekend, as a thick and persistent cloud of black dust drifted across the city centre. The incident has sparked anger among residents, many of whom fear the health risks of breathing in polluted air.
The problem began on Saturday evening as winds picked up and continued into Sunday. Videos and photos shared on social media show large parts of the Oktyabrsky District — the city centre — blanketed in a dense haze.
“My husband and I initially thought there had been an explosion or a major fire somewhere. But it wasn’t smoke. It was the wind carrying an endless cloud of coal dust from the commercial port towards the city,” Svetlana Savelyeva told local outlet Bolshoy Radio.
Her neighbour, Ekaterina, voiced deep concern about her family’s future in Murmansk. “I’m frightened for my children’s health — truly frightened. I’m afraid to even think about what we might be breathing in. My son is two years old. When I look out of the window, I can’t help but consider leaving for another region, even though I love Murmansk,” she said.
From her flat on a hill overlooking the centre, she could clearly see the city shrouded in a dense layer of pollution.
While GTRK Murman, the regional branch of the state broadcaster, did not mention the incident, social media was flooded with posts from residents sharing videos and images, along with concerns about potential health consequences. Others complained of grimy windows, dust-covered cars, and grey deposits settling across the streets.
The coal harbour forms part of Murmansk’s commercial seaport and lies just a short distance from the city centre. A tall wind barrier has been installed along the section of the coal loading facilities facing the city in an effort to limit the spread of dust. However, it appears to offer little protection during strong winds, which reached 17 m/s over the weekend, according to the regional branch of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Murmansk Commercial Seaport stated on Telegram that its air quality monitoring systems “did not record any exceedances of established standards”. It added that coal loading operations had been temporarily halted to reduce further dust dispersion.
Meanwhile, the Russian-language service of the Barents Observer reported last week that construction of a new coal port in Lavna, on the western shore of Kola Bay, has been suspended. The delay is reportedly due to Russian Railways lacking the funds needed to complete the rail infrastructure required to service the port.
The Barents Observer has previously noted that Russia’s coal industry is facing significant challenges, including declining export revenues, reduced global demand, sanctions, and rising logistics costs. These pressures are contributing to worsening financial conditions across the sector and an increasing number of unprofitable enterprises.
Today, India is a major buyer of coal from Murmansk after EU Member States ceased to import coal from Russia in August 2022. Asia-Pacific countries receive around 75–80% of Russian coal exports overall.
