Norilsk Nickel must modernize its polluting way or production, or risk considerably higher fines, says Vladimir Putin. The company and the federal environmental watchdog Rosprirodnadzor have concluded an agreement on reduction of pollutant emissions over the next three years.

Russia in Q2 increased imports with 33 percent year-on-year. That might eventually threaten the revival of Russian industry.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s statements about a planned increase in import duties on foreign cars might cast shadows over the country’s quick accession in the World Trade Organisation.

Russian media speculate if the Danish bulk carrier “MV Nordic Barents” is not fit for the journey from Northern Norway to China through the Northeast Passage.

The State Secretaries at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Finland and Norway will drive together to Murmansk today.

Significant growth in the mining industry in the first half of 2010 prevented the economy of Murmansk Oblast from turning negative.

For the first time ever, a bulk carrier with non-Russian flag is using the Northern Sea Route as a transit trade lane, when transporting iron ore from the Northern Norway to China via Arctic and Russian waters.

The costs of using the service of nuclear icebreakers on the Northern Sea Route through the Northeast Passage should not be particularly higher than the costs of passing through the Suez Canal, says Atomflot.

The first high-tonnage tanker to take the Northern Sea Route from Europe to Asia has arrived Pevek on the Chukotka Peninsula one day earlier than expected.

Regional authorities in Murmansk are to invest 58 million RUB in the upgrade of the road leading to the Finnish border. Federal authorities will add another 112 million RUB to the project.