The new base is to help Kirkenes prepare for oil and gas developments in the Barents Sea. –The base will be a bridge head in the maritime development in the region, town Mayor Linda Beate Randal says to NRK. She also believes the new base can help Kirkenes become a supplementary supply port in the Shtokman project. The new base is to be built in the parts of the local bay previously used as dump site for surplus ore from the mining industry. A project consequence study is now initiated and construction start is due next fall. -We believe activities in connection with the Shtokman field will be important and that oil and gas related industry will come here, Kaj Bakke, leader of the Sydvaranger company says to NRK. It is the Sydvaranger company, a subsidiary of Tschudi Shipping, which owns the areas of the planned base.
