Four years after the government and Gazprombank pledged billions to build a strategic deepwater port on Sakhalin Island, there is not even a construction site. The project, which was initially heralded as a major infrastructure development to boost regional economic growth, has remained stagnant, raising serious concerns about the effective use of public funds.
Originally scheduled to commence construction within two years of the funding commitment, the deepwater port was intended to serve as a critical hub for oil and gas exports, linking Russia’s eastern territories to global markets. The delay has sparked questions about the project’s feasibility, potential mismanagement, and even allegations of corruption within the financial and political frameworks overseeing the initiative.
Experts and local officials have called for greater transparency and accountability, suggesting that the prolonged delay highlights systemic challenges in project execution within the region. The port was also expected to create thousands of jobs and strengthen Russia’s maritime trade capabilities, but without tangible progress, these promises remain unfulfilled.