In September 2024, a decision was made to commence the construction of infrastructure for the Nayba port—the long-awaited maritime gateway to Yakutia. During his visit to the site of the future construction, the Chairman of the Government of the Sakha Republic, Kirill Bychkov, outlined the initial steps that the builders would take. In the first phase, a quay wall will be constructed, and three cranes will be installed to handle cargo for the construction of a small-capacity nuclear power plant in Ust-Kuyga. Industrial companies from the Kyuchus gold mining cluster will also gain access to the new facilities, which is expected to become the second-largest in the region in terms of precious metal reserves—geologists currently estimate that around 175 tons of gold can be found in its depths.

The new nuclear power station and mining and processing plant are expected to become key growth points for the Arctic region of Yakutia, with the port of Nayba being a necessary condition for their establishment. Its location was chosen deliberately. The Kharaulakh Bay is reliably protected from the strong winds that create waves along the shore, and geologists believe that the local soils will not thaw or erode significantly during global warming. Moreover, it is precisely at this location, 112 km from Tiksi, where the seabed depth near the shore reaches 14 m. This will enable the port to accommodate sea vessels capable of delivering hundreds of tons of cargo in a single trip. For example, they are expected to supply a significant portion of the petroleum products needed by the nearby Arctic rural localities. Annually, approximately 284,000 tons of fuel are delivered to them as part of the Northern Supply programme, which is currently a considerable challenge. River shipping along polar rivers is still significantly less economically efficient (in terms of speed, reliability and safety) compared to maritime transport.

By 2032, the projected capacity of the port is expected to reach 18.3 mn tons under the base scenario and 23.1 mn tons according to optimistic forecasts. Of course, in addition to fuel and construction materials, other goods will also be transported through the new port, which will significantly impact their final prices for the local population. Along with the import of useful products and the export of extracted raw materials, it is expected to stimulate the development of local production, including agricultural products. In addition to the quay and cranes, there are plans to construct areas for liquid and bulk cargo handling, fuel tanks, and to bring powerful pumps and modern equipment to the Arctic. The port itself will also have a positive impact, as it is expected to create 510 permanent jobs.

The project's cost is currently estimated at RUB 85 bn. Both the state and Rosatom Corporation have expressed their willingness to participate in the construction of the year-round deep-water port. Earlier, Gazprombank expressed its readiness to participate in financing the programme. These investments are expected to serve as the foundation upon which fundamentally new infrastructure in Arctic Yakutia will be built. Since 2021, scientists have stated that a key obstacle to the development of the Russian Arctic, particularly its Yakut sector, is the lack of regular communication with the mainland. An isolated region with unpredictable and very long delivery routes has been forced to exist somewhat independently, which poorly aligns with industrial development and improvements in the standard of living. The port will enable the construction of a nuclear power plant and large enterprises, and along with them, roads, accessible goods and services will emerge in the polar regions.

By the way, Tiksi and the Nayba settlement have been included in the list of 16 key settlements of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. Master plans for the long-term socio-economic development of these areas are being developed, which include improving the quality of life, constructing and repairing social infrastructure, and creating new opportunities for the local population. The implementation of the project for the development of support settlements includes a total of 36 activities and approximately RUB 282 bn in investments.

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