Murmansk Region Does Not Know When Belarusian Terminal Will Be Built
Reform.news · 1 October 2026, 23:32
https://reform.news/en/murmansk-region-does-not-know-when-belarusian-terminal-will-be-built/Work on the Belarusian terminal project is continuing, while its construction will take “several years.” Artyom Kuksa, First Deputy Minister for Arctic Development and Economy of the Murmansk Region, told SB. Belarus Segodnya. The Russian official was unable to give a specific date for completion of the project.
According to Kuksa, planning for the construction of the Belarusian terminal revealed capacity constraints on transport routes leading to the port. The problem is expected to be addressed as part of the modernization of the transport hub.
Kuksa said it is now necessary to determine what work will be required on the railway network, how much it will cost and what mechanism will be used to implement the project. Belarusian cargo is being taken into account in projections of future freight flows, as well as in technical and financial calculations.
Kuksa also said that in March this year, the Murmansk Bulk Terminal handled Belarusian potash that had been diverted from the Baltic due to difficult ice conditions in the Gulf of Finland, providing its transshipment and onward shipment.
Tariffs remain one of the obstacles to expanding freight traffic. According to the official, transporting cargo to Baltic ports is currently cheaper than sending it to northern ports. The governor of the Murmansk Region has already submitted requests for a revision of tariff policy, but the decision depends on Russia’s federal authorities and Russian Railways.
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An agreement of intent to build a terminal for Belarusian cargo in the Murmansk Region was signed on April 22, 2024. It was signed by Governor Andrei Chibis and Andrei Bunakou, Director General of Maritime Terminal “Gateway to the Arctic” LLC. The complex was planned for the western shore of Kola Bay, within the new Lavna port. It was intended to handle mineral fertilizers, petroleum products, containers and other cargo. The stated design capacity was 25–30 million tonnes per year, with the first cargo expected to be handled in 2028. The cost of the project was not disclosed when the agreement was signed.
In November 2025, the Murmansk Region authorities reported that the project was at the pre-investment stage, with the sides working on design solutions and infrastructure for the terminal. In March 2026, following a meeting with Aliaksandr Lukashenka, Chibis described the project as complex, citing limited railway capacity and the need for additional calculations of possible implementation models. According to the governor, discussions covered not only the shipment of Belarusian goods but also the possibility of receiving cargo from Asia via Murmansk.