Two new fields to be launched in NAO in 2026

The Nenets Autonomous Okrug retains its status as one of the key centers of the Arctic zone, despite external challenges. Enormous resources are concentrated in the region, although only 34% of oil and 2% of gas have been developed so far. This was announced on August 4 at a working meeting with Vladimir Putin by the head of the NAO Irina Gekht. This year, a long—awaited breakthrough took place - the development of two new fields in the region was launched at once and the project of the ice-free deepwater port of Indiga was launched. At the same time, great attention is paid to the needs of the whole country as a whole — every tenth man went to the front.

What was discussed at the meeting

Being one of the smallest regions in Russia in terms of population, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug maintains a decent standard of living. The authorities managed to index the salaries of state employees by 7%. Now residents of the NAO earn an average of 140 thousand rubles each, which is higher than in Russia.

The district fully fulfills all social obligations. The main priority remains the support of the participants of the SVO and their families. Every tenth man went to the front under the contract, Irina Gekht said. In addition to the 14 mandatory federal measures, 38 additional measures are in effect in the district, including land allocation, compensation, and full payment for rehabilitation in the Leningrad Region. "Your budget's financial condition is good, so there are such opportunities," Vladimir Putin remarked.

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The NAO remains a key region of the Arctic zone with enormous potential: at the moment, only 34% of oil and 2% of gas have been developed. And two large projects are being launched in the district at once — the Layavozhskoye field and the Komandirshorskoye field. In parallel with the oil industry, small-scale energy technologies are being introduced: the experience of using heat pumps at the Kharyaginsky field is being transferred to remote villages, combining them with wind generation and solar energy. Another key project is the ice—free deep-water port of Indiga (over 20 m) at Cape Rumyanichny. It does not require icebreaking wiring and will attract about 10 billion rubles of investment.

The transport and communal infrastructure also determines the direction of the region's development. The district is completing the purchase of fuel for the Northern import and is building 14 new boiler houses. Naryan-Mar is preparing a concession for 10 billion rubles for the reconstruction of the runway and is completing the design of the Naryan-Mar-Usinsk highway with a bridge over the Kuya River worth 8 billion rubles.

In general, the situation in the region's economy is gradually improving: over the past two years, the number of SMEs has almost doubled, the self—employed has increased by 50%, and industrial production has increased by 102.5% in the first half of the year. All this is due to sound policies: the mining tax has formed a budget where 54% is allocated to the economy, 24% to education, and 12% to healthcare and social policy.