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Rosneft in eco-protected waters

In its bid to map Arctic waters, Rosneft might have illegally moved into protected conservation areas. This photo is from a company-supported research operation in the Kara Sea.

The oil company might have illegally conducted seismic mapping in Arctic conservation areas, environmentalists say.

Location

According to Greenpeace, a seismic vessel operating for state oil producer Rosneft in late August and September moved into an area protected by Russian conservation laws.

The incident took place in Russian east Arctic waters, close to the Wrangle island, a press release from the environmental organization reads. It was the vessel “Neptunia” which reportedly violated the ban on commercial traffic in the area.

All industrial and commercial activities in the Russian nature reserves are strictly prohibited by federal law.

The organization has requested the Russian State Prosecutor’s Office to examine the incident.

“The intrusion of the oil business […] into the unique Arctic reserve clearly shows how Russian authorities and their commercial company associates treat legislation on protection of Arctic nature”, Greenpeace spokesman Mikhail Kreyndlin says.

Rosneft has over the last couple of years rapidly enhanced its activities in the Arctic and has acquired a string of new exploration and production licenses in the area. The company holds licenses also in several areas close to conservation reserves in the western part of Russia’s Arctic, among them near the Franz Josef Land and the northern parts of Novaya Zemlya.