The FSB confirms to BarentsObserver Murmansk that Teriberka from January 1 is opened for regular travel. That means that visitors no longer need special permits to go to the place, the site for the planned Shtokman LNG plant, as well as other petroleum installations.
It still remains illegal however to turn off from the main road to Teriberka. The village, originally a fishery port, is located about 100 km northeast of Murmansk city.
The opening of Teriberka will make it far easier for Shtokman project partners Gazprom, Total and StatoilHydro to visit Teriberka. Until now, the companies have had to apply to the FSB several months ahead of visits to the site.
Regular Russian migration regulations still apply for the area. That means that the type of a visa should correspond to the purpose of travel. The FSB in Murmansk therefore requests travelers to inform beforehand about upcoming events at the site.
The FSB also in October last year made corrections in the border zone in Murmansk Oblast. Then, the border towns of Nikel, Zapolyarny and Pechenga were opened for traffic.
It was the organizers of the Barents Sea Conference in Hammerfest, Norway, which last week informed about the FSB decision.
