MOSCOW: Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom said Wednesday it has taken full control of logistics group Delo, announcing plans to create the country’s largest network of rail, road and port terminals.

Rosatom, which previously held 49% of Delo, bought the remaining 51% stake from the company’s founder, Sergei Shishkaryov. It will combine Delo with its own transport assets, including shipping group FESCO, according to reports.

Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev announced the deal but did not disclose its value. Shishkaryov confirmed the sale and said he would direct a significant part of the proceeds to “national security needs.”

He did not provide details, but several prominent Russian businessmen have made donations to support the state budget, which has been strained by Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

The deal expands the reach and ambition of Rosatom, the world’s biggest builder of nuclear power stations, whose operations extend well beyond atomic energy. It is also the state entity charged with developing the Northern Sea Route, an Arctic transport corridor that President Vladimir Putin has championed as a strategic priority.

Delo is Russia’s leading container logistics operator. It owns marine and inland terminals, a container fleet with capacity exceeding 220,000 TEU and 40,000 rail platforms.

The group also controls the KSK grain terminal at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, Russia’s largest grain export terminal, with annual capacity of up to 10 million metric tons. Operations at major Black Sea grain terminals, including KSK, were temporarily suspended this summer because of security concerns and Ukrainian attacks on port infrastructure.