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Atle Staalesen

atle@barents.no
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@AtleStaalesen

Atle Staalesen is BarentsObserver staff writer and Adviser in the Norwegian Barents Secretariat. He has a degree in Russian from the University of Oslo and has studied journalism at the Moscow State University. He has worked with BarentsObserver since its establishment in 2002.

Atle Staalesen is editor of the Barents Review and also responsible for the Barents Secretariat's Cross Border Cooperation (CBC) activities in Slovakia and Bulgaria, a part of the Norway Grants financial mechanism.

Content by Atle Staalesen

Gazprom Neft is ready to fuel the markets with oil from the Novoportovskoye field in Yamal (Photo: Gazprom Neft)

First oil from Yamal

With trucks and railway, Gazprom Neft this winter transported the first 10000 tons of oil from the Novoportovskoye field in the Yamal Peninsula.

May 15, 2013
Andrei Melnichenko, Russia's sixth richest man, is playing an increasingly important role in Murmansk Oblast (Photo: Wikipedia)

The new Murmansk tycoon

Russian multi-billionaire Andrei Melnichenko intends to boost shipments of iron ore, apatite and coal from Murmansk.

May 15, 2013
The CO2 Lab at Svalbard will soon start injecting carbon dioxide in a promising local reservoir. (Photo: Ragnhild Rønneberg/UNIS)

Svalbard prepares the ground for CO2 storage

Researchers have found substantial CO2 storage capacities in the bedrock near Longyearbyen at Svalbard.

May 13, 2013
In Nikel, people celebrated 1 May as local pollution reached alarming levels. (Photo: from Murmansk -- Trude Pettersen)

Poisonous May day celebrations

As people in Nikel, the Russian border town, enjoyed a day off on May 1, the deadly sulphur dioxide emissions from the local plant reached the highest level this year.

May 08, 2013
The Kaunisvaara mine in northern Sweden is one of the biggest new industrial projects in the Barents Region. (Photo: Northland.eu)

New credits save Lapland iron

After having been on the verge of bankruptcy, the Northland Resources now confirms that it has the funding needed for continued development of the great Kaunisvaara iron mine project in northern Sweden.

May 07, 2013
The Ragovidda project will generate energy for thousands of people on the Norwegian Arctic coast. (Photo: Siemens)

Where the wind blows the most

The Varanger Kraft company is investing almost €80 million in a wind power project on Norway's Arctic coast, at one of the most windy spots in Europe.

May 07, 2013
The Russian Premier will on the 3-4 June take part in the Barents Prime Ministers' meeting in Kirkenes. (Photo: Government.ru)

Preparing for visit to Kirkenes, Medvedev says drill

One month ahead of his visit to the Norwegian Barents town of Kirkenes, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev issues licenses to four nearby Barents Sea fields.

May 03, 2013
Gazprom must intensify Arctic exploration if it is to withstand competition from Rosneft. (Photo: Gazprom.ru)

Gazprom boosts offshore reserves

Under increasing pressure from competitors and the authorities, the Russian gas major is stepping up exploration and drilling in Arctic waters.

May 03, 2013
Karelian leader Aleksandr Khudilainen appears to have the support of the President, but will still to cope with Rusal. (Photo: Photo: gov.karelia.ru)

Putin backs governor in fight against Rusal

The Nadvoitsy aluminium plant will be rescued, the jobs saved and production preserved, Governor of Karelia Aleksandr Khudilainen says after his meetings with the Kremlin. However, plant owner Rusal does not agree.

May 02, 2013
This time, the spilled Kharyaga oil did not reach the Kolva river, representatives of Lukoil say. Here from a training event. (Photo: Lukoil Komi)

Tundra oil spill

A pipeline near the Kharyaga field started leaking oil resulting in a second spill on the local Nenets tundra in less than a year.

April 30, 2013
First oil from Yamal

With trucks and railway, Gazprom Neft this winter transported the first 10000 tons of oil from the Novoportovskoye field in the Yamal Peninsula.

May 16, 2013 Comments
Where the wind blows the most

The Varanger Kraft company is investing almost €80 million in a wind power project on Norway's Arctic coast, at one of the most windy spots in Europe.

May 07, 2013 Comments
Hercules investigation report postponed for fifth time

The investigation report after the Hercules aircraft crash in Kebnekaise in March 2012 is still not ready and has been postponed for the fifth time.

May 07, 2013 Comments
Norwegian-Russian POMOR-2013 naval exercise starts this week

Norwegian and Russian naval forces will soon be ready to start the annual POMOR exercise. Norway’s frigate “KNM Helge Ingstad” today arrived at the Northern Fleet’s main base of Severomorsk.

May 07, 2013 Comments Has gallery images
Arctic Biodiversity Assessment released

KIRUNA: the Arctic Council’s biodiversity group today released the “Arctic Biodiversity Assessment”, a report containing the best available science on the status and trends of Arctic biodiversity and accompanying policy recommendations for biodiversity conservation.

May 15, 2013 Comments
Landmark carbon dioxide levels bad news for Arctic

Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are poised to consistently climb above 400 parts per million for the first time in human history - a reality that has damning implications for the Arctic.

May 14, 2013 Comments
New credits save Lapland iron

After having been on the verge of bankruptcy, the Northland Resources now confirms that it has the funding needed for continued development of the great Kaunisvaara iron mine project in northern Sweden.

May 08, 2013 Comments
Svalbard coal mine reduces staff

World’s northernmost coal company posts huge loss and is forced to send miners home from the Arctic.

May 04, 2013 Comments Has gallery images
Yes to China, No to EU

KIRUNA: The Arctic Council welcomed six new observer countries this morning, among them China, Japan and South Korea. But one was notably absent: the European Union.

May 15, 2013 Comments
Canada brings indigenous voice to Arctic policy

KIRUNA: The first indigenous chairperson of the Arctic Council said she will use her two-year term to raise awareness of how important the indigenous way of life is and will put the interests of northern people first when considering Arctic research, development and policy.

May 15, 2013 Comments Has gallery images
Indigenous people discuss their role in a changing Arctic

In a rapidly changing Arctic, the region's indigenous people are standing at the forefront of climate change and resource development – a situation that's putting them increasingly in the international spotlight and raising questions about their role in Arctic policy making.

May 18, 2013 Comments
Spektakel break in 2014

10 Barents Spektakel festivals in a row in Kirkenes calls for a one year festival break for the organizers in the art curator group "Pikene på Broen". The next festival will probably be held in the winter of 2015.

April 25, 2013 Comments
Peak hours at Barents borders

The first days of May have been all time high for border-crossings at Russia’s northernmost check-points to Europe.

May 07, 2013 Comments Has gallery images
Finland, Russia aim at smoother border traffic

A cross-administrative border traffic working group is established to facilitate trade and travelling between the countries.

April 04, 2013 Comments
Nordic protest after Russian inspection

Russia’s crack-down on foreign funded groups have reached Nordic Council’s information office in Kaliningrad. Carl Bildt and the other Nordic Foreign Ministers lodge sharp protest.

May 03, 2013 Comments
EU: Strengthen civil society in Barents Council

EU’s Economic and Social Committee recommends in its Arctic Policy opinion that key civil society partners should be given a stronger advisory role in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council.

May 02, 2013 Comments
Victory Day celebrated

Last Thursday people all over Russia celebrated Victory Day, which marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War. BarentsObserver brings you photos from the celebrations in Murmansk, Nikel, Arkhangelsk and Litsa.

May 13, 2013 Comments Has gallery images
YLE starts publishing in language spoken by 400

Finland’s Sámi radio contributes to save the seriously endangered Inari Sámi language by going online with dedicated news.

May 09, 2013 Comments