Tsukanov: Vorkuta needs separate development programme as Arctic support zone

The polar city of Vorkuta (Republic of Komi, one of the Arctic support zones) needs a separate development programme to provide a decent life for its people and for doing business, Presidential Plenipotentiary to the North-West Federal District Nikolay Tsukanov told TASS news agency in an interview.

“It’s good that Vorkuta ended up in the support zone. A programme is needed to ensure livelihood. It needs to be understood that it’s not easy doing business in such difficult climatic conditions. A number of management decisions have not been adopted there – coal reserves are running out, the Severnaya mine has been shut down, the cost of coal is increasing along with metals – and this is the supply chain. New reserves have not been explored and no road has been built to access them. The region needs to work and think about the future. We spoke about this and we have an understanding with the governor as well as investors (Severstal and T Plus)”, Tsukanov said.

Tsukanov believes that problems facing the municipality need to be resolved to secure the population there.