Sukhodol coal terminal enters operation in Primorye

Sukhodol's coal terminal entered operation in September 2024 after earlier trials. VEB.RF is investing 17 billion rubles in the port-development project.

Sukhodol's coal terminal in Primorye entered operation on September 4, 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the facility by videoconference during the Eastern Economic Forum. The ceremony was broadcast on the Rossiya-24 television channel.

The port is being developed through VEB.RF's Project Financing Factory, with the state corporation investing 17 billion rubles. Export coal had previously moved through warehouse-to-ship and rail-to-ship testing at the port in late 2023.

Sukhodol Seaport logo

Earlier commissioning

The first coal shipment aboard H VESTAL took place on November 26, 2023, while terminal equipment was undergoing commissioning and testing. The vessel received 44,000 tonnes. Loading continued around the clock and lasted 91 hours.

In the company's December 1, 2023 account, then general director Sergey Kropotov described readiness as exceeding 90%. The first coal train had arrived in October, allowing the terminal to accumulate a vessel-sized shipment before loading began at berth No. 1. At that stage, the operator's priorities were establishing uninterrupted equipment operation and bringing all coal-terminal facilities into service.

Coal trials and terminal launch — Test loading and official launch

Rail and loading infrastructure

The operator had completed its own railway infrastructure, including 20 non-public tracks, a railway station for acceptance and transfer procedures, a rail handling area, and wagon thawing and unloading facilities. Stacker-reclaimers, conveyor belts and ship-loading machines were tested during the inaugural vessel operation.

The company outlined plans for enclosed coal handling, a storage area protected by an 18-metre windbreak wall, covered conveyor belts and cargo irrigation throughout the handling process. Kropotov forecast loading of up to 7,000 tonnes per hour with two ship-loaders operating simultaneously after commissioning.