With the increasing significance of the Arctic as a result of climate change,
the opening of new maritime routes
and increased exploration of natural resources in the region
as well as the region's increasing militarization, great competition
has emerged in the Arctic.
Furthermore,
the Arctic Silk Road between the Western Pacific
and the Northern Atlantic has piqued the interest
of the international community since it would cut the time it takes
for ships to go from one port to the next in half.
Watch the video until the end.
As we tell you about
one of the biggest projects in the world and what Russia is doing with it.
The beginning, the fascination with the Arctic dates back to 1555
when the British Muscovy Company gathered
funds from investors to investigate the potential of a Northern Sea passage.
It was the world's first significant charter joint stock
company, paving the way for this type of corporation to prosper.
In England and fund the country's global exploration.
Although the passage
to do trading with Russia and Asia via the Arctic was deemed impractical,
it didn't fade from public, political or commercial imagination.
After more than five centuries, the loss of Arctic ice
has now suddenly opened up the Arctic route, which, while not without risks,
is ushering in a new breed of nuclear powered Arctic capable warships.
Russia, along with China, has emerged as a technology leader.
The countries are developing icebreakers and bulk cargo ships
which are being introduced to manage these conditions.
The expansion and strengthening of Russia's economic, infrastructural
and technological growth in the Arctic is one of the country's top priorities.
The polar Silk Road.
The Polar Silk Road refers to Arctic maritime routes
that run through the Arctic Circle and connects three major economic centers
in North America, East Asia and Western Europe.
In terms of landmass, Russia has the largest portion of the Arctic.
The Kola Peninsula in the Murmansk Oblast, which borders Norway,
stretches all the way to the chocolate autonomous region in the east,
which is close to the U.S. state of Alaska.
Murmansk Oblast. Republic of Korea.
Arkhangelsk Oblast.
Komi Republic.
Yamal or Nenets Autonomous or Krug.
Nenets Autonomous or Krug.
Krasnoyarsk Krai Republic of Sakha and Shikoku Autonomous or Krug
are the nine Russian federal subjects located North of the Arctic Circle.
Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Norilsk and Vermeulen
are among the cities and ports located north of the Arctic Circle as receding sea
ice in the Arctic is allowing the region to open to navigation.
Shipping channels such as the Northern Sea passage are becoming much shorter.
The opening of the Arctic route will massively boost the circumpolar
North's economy and cause dramatic shifts in world trade and shipping
patterns as a result of recent natural developments.
Something previously thought impossible was actually made possible in 2017
when a Russian oil tanker crossed the Arctic
without the use of an icebreaker traveling from Asia to Europe in just 19 days.
Significantly less than the 48 days
it takes ships to travel from China to Europe's largest port, Rotterdam.
The unexpected partnership
Russia and China have emerged as important stakeholders in the region's future.
As the thawing of the Arctic
has enhanced its geopolitical relevance and potential economic viability.
Their cooperation on Arctic issues, both formally and informally,
is a crucial aspect of grasping the Arctic's long term strategic balance.
Moscow's involvement has been extensive and long lasting, with Moscow
pressing for the development of the Northern Sea route
along its Siberian coast
as an alternative to southern trade routes through the Suez
Canal and investing in the construction of the Arctic Ocean's only icebreakers.
China is a lesser known player in the Arctic, with its closest region
being 5000 kilometers across the Bering Strait by sea.
However, in recent years, China has pushed for more involvement in Arctic affairs,
becoming one of the Arctic Council's 13 observer states.
In 2013.
In 2018, China produced an official white paper titled China's Arctic Policy,
which outlines the country's
Arctic priorities and describes itself as a near Arctic state,
signaling the country's ambition to play a larger role in the region.
As a result of this unexpected
partnership, bilateral trade between China and Russia has increased
because Russia has been obliged
to look east for new supply routes and consumers for its exports.
As a result of Western sanctions following the US-China
trade conflict, China, too, wants to decrease its exposure to U.S.
goods.
Thus, their bilateral trade is predicted to grow at a rate of $20 billion per year
until 2024, making it one of the world's fastest growing trade corridors.
China and Russia have also worked well together on liquefied
natural gas projects, which have seen fast growth and global demand.
Both countries are working together on the world's largest LNG project
named the Yamal LNG Project, which is located on
Russia's Yamal Peninsula, just inside the Arctic Circle.
It began operations in 2017
with the first LNG shipment to China arriving in July of that year.
The second electricity of Siberia pipeline is expected to start operating in
mid 2022.
Alleviating China's present power constraints.
Moreover, China Communications Construction Company
got the contract to build an LNG terminal in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula
in August of 2021, extending Russia's LNG supplies to Asia.
Russia's massive role
through the development of its Arctic regions
and a bigger Marine presence in the Arctic Ocean.
Russia has the material power to strengthen its position in the Arctic.
Russia's growing interest in the Arctic can be seen in both concrete actions,
like the construction of icebreakers opening up oil and gas pipelines,
developing the Arctic for tourism, and encouraging international cooperation
for Arctic development,
as well as with prestige acts like the planting of the Russian flag
in the North Pole seabed.
Russia has been pouring vast sums of money into developing its Arctic territories.
The country identifies resource management and the urgency of addressing risks
as major interests in the region.
In its newest Arctic strategy, which is aimed at 2035,
Russia is also building the world's largest oil project.
A $110 billion mega port on the Tamia Peninsula.
The port will be home to the country's largest Arctic oil terminal,
as well as its own set of new roadways, airports and power plants.
The 500,000 workers required to make it all
happen will be housed in the new villages near the port.
This project is costing Russia a lot of money,
but even this money pales in comparison to the expected returns.
The country is going to receive.
Moreover, this megaport is only one aspect of a bigger development
plan for the region,
so it is quite obvious that Russia cannot undertake everything on its own
and must rely on foreign investment to pay much of the new infrastructure.
Largest shipping port in northern Russia.
Russia is also planning a transport hub in Murmansk,
which, when completed will be the largest shipping point in northern Russia.
The transport hub project is an important component of the Federal Government's
strategy for transport system development by 2030.
It is the largest infrastructure project in the Russian Arctic,
alongside the seabed, a port in Yamal.
The development of a 28 kilometer railway line on the western side of the Kola Bay
is also part of these proposals.
The line will run from Murmansk to Lavina, just west of the Tullamore River,
and will entail the construction of a bridge across the river.
Lava is being constructed as a large coal handling deep
sea port with a capacity of 18 million tonnes per year.
Several Arctic airports will also receive significant renovations
because of the Government's plans for the expansion of the Northern Sea routes.
Infrastructure.
The airport complex and MDMA east of the Nenets region, which serves
as a base for the development of oil fields,
and the airport in Pivac, are among the ones who will be worked on.
Turkey Airport in Yakutia is also being built
and it is not far from the Colima River Port, which is 130 kilometers downstream
from the East Siberian Sea, and serves as a significant processing center.
The capital of M Airport and Bill Sabino Chico's third city
is also being improved, which will boost connections to a great extent
The interest of big companies,
the commercialization of the Arctic is gaining traction with Murmansk.
Russia's new Free Trade Center, now
offering university courses in Arctic logistics and economics.
The Northern Sea passage
will account for a large portion of the original Polar Silk Road as it cuts
the time and cost of carrying products between Europe and Asia by up to 35%.
Russia designated the Russian Arctic a complete free trade
zone, encouraging businesses and individuals to settle in the area.
According to Russia's Ministry of Economic Development,
20 enterprises have applied to invest in Korea's Arctic zone
through the Arctic investment site, according to Russia's Ministry
of Economic Development, 20 enterprises have applied to invest in Kirill
as Arctic Zone through the Arctic investment site,
with tourism industry, wood processing, mining, fishing and hospitality.
Among the projects listed on the investment platform,
the Russian Arctic is turning out to be the world's largest economic zone,
covering about 5 million square kilometers.
When fully active,
the residents of the Arctic will benefit greatly from tax breaks and simplified
administrative procedures.
The region's growth coincides with the Northern Sea passages,
increasing viability as a shipping route between China and Europe,
with the Russian Arctic coastline
poised to give market access and assistance, global warming and Russia.
Russia has claimed that its new oil mega ports will be environmentally sustainable.
And have a low hydrocarbon impact, which is very hard to believe.
Apparently, wind turbines are expected to power the oil installations.
However, with the ever increasing global warming the world does not require
new oil infrastructure currently,
and various environmental groups have campaigned against these projects
as construction could harm Arctic wildlife in parts of the oil fields.
Which are located within a designated nature reserve.
However, Russia sees the Arctic as one of the locations
where it may impede American global hegemony,
while also strengthening its relative power position.
But it is a fact that Russia is the fourth greatest emitter of greenhouse
gases in the world.
Although the country has now
committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2060,
it has not yet agreed to phase out coil and methane emissions during this decade.
As we advance further towards the 21st century and witness
unfortunately less and less ice in the Arctic, one thing is certain
the world will alter in ways we do not anticipate.
Well, that's it for today's video.
We hope you enjoyed the content of the video.
If you did show some love
and hit that like button and don't forget to subscribe to our channel
so that you never miss out on any of the amazing videos we have in store for you.