Two Russian companies joined forces on Thursday, April 23, for the construction of the world’s most powerful nuclear icebreaker, in their efforts to improve trade though the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
Specifically, Reuters reports that the two companies signing the deal are Atomflot, a subsidiary of Russian nuclear group Rosatom, and the Zvezda shipyard, owned by a consortium led by oil giant Rosneft.
The vessel, with the propulsion power of 120 megawatts, is scheduled to be constructed in 2027.
The two companies stated that they will build the Lider icebreaker to boost the trade on a northern sea route crucial to forging closer links with Asia.
Speaking about the project, Rosatom, stated that the icebreaker will be able to navigate through ice as thick as 4 metres, fitted with a nuclear power unit.
In the past, President Vladimir Putin has said that Arctic shipping routes along Russia’s northern coast could rival the Suez Canal as a short-cut trade route between Europe and Asia.
Overall, Russia aims to boost trade through the NSR, as an alternative route to Suez Canal, exporting 80 million tonnes of cargoes per year by 2024 to Europe and Asia.
