Moscow wants Arctic emergency hub in Khatanga
It will help provide security for logistics along the Arctic coast, Russia's Minister of Emergency Situations (Emercom) said during a recent visit to the far northern town.
Russia is building a series of hubs for rescue and emergency operations along the Northern Sea Route. Khatanga, the town located on the far northern Taymyr Peninsula, now appears to be on the priority list.
In a government meeting this week, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin commissioned the federal Ministry of Construction to prepare a plan for the design, financing and construction of the center.
The document must be ready by 1 March 2025, Mishustin underlined.
The instruction was made as part of an amendment of the country's Arctic Strategy, a document that includes measures on economic development and national security in the region.
Originally, the Arctic Strategy included the development of rescue and emergency hubs in Pevek, Sabetta, Dikson and Tiksi.
Apparently, Khatanga is now added to that list.
Judging from a development plan for the Northern Sea Route, a total of 6,75 billion rubles (€64 million) are to be invested in the building of the centres by year 2035.
The hubs are to help improve security for shippers operating in the icy and remote waters of the Northern Sea Route. The first center of the kind was reportedly opened in Pevek in June 2024.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the new center in Pevek includes about 50 employees and 25 pieces of special vehicles and boats for operations in harsh Arctic conditions.
In June this year, Chief of Emercom Aleksandr Kurenkov paid a visit to Khatanga where he looked at the site for the new center.
According to local authorities, the plot is 3,500 square meter big and located near the Khatanga airport. On site is due to be built a hangar with equipment for aviation operations in the area.
Khatanga is located in the Taymyr Peninsula, not far from where the Khatanga River runs into the Laptev Sea. The small town with a population of about 2,000 has an airport that has been used for a number of expeditions and operations in the remotest Russian Arctic.
Over the last years, Khatanga has also been site for exploration oil drilling by Rosneft.
