Russia to build berth at Matua Island of Kuril archipelago

Matua Island of the Kuril chain will be used for transport purposes. In particular, a loading berth will be built there, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, dual-hatted as president of the Russian Geographic Society (RGS), has told the media on Sept. 19.

"We will have to answer a number of concrete questions and do this as soon as this year. We are going to restore and start using the island rather actively as a transport hub for north-south and west-east traffic," Shoigu told a session of RGS’s media pool.

In particular, the RGS president explained, scientists should find out how mud flows and volcanoes will affect the runway when it is used and expanded. According to Shoigu, a loading berth is planned for construction on Matua for vehicles and other hardware to disembark from ships.

It remains to be seen what purposes - military or civilian ones - the infrastructure will be used for.

Source: TASS

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