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Thomas Nilsen

Thomas worked for the Norwegian Barents Secretariat between 2003 and 2015. Between 2009 and 2015 he was the editor of BarentsObserver. Before that he worked 12 years for the Bellona Foundation’s Russian study group, focusing on nuclear safety issues and general environmental challenges in northern areas and the Arctic.

Thomas has been travelling extensively in the Barents Region and northern Russia since the late 80’s working for different media and organizations. He is also a guide at sea and in remote locations in the Russian north for various groups and regularly lectures on security issues and socio-economic development in the Barents Region. Thomas Nilsen studied at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. 

Content by Thomas Nilsen

”This will generate value for the Norwegian people for decades,” says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Tord Lien with the thumb up for Arctic drilling as the Goliat platform arrives Hammerfest.

Both procurator’s office and regional Ministry of Justice have earlier cleared the environmental organization from suspected political activity, but since they failed to voluntarily sign up as foreign agent, the risk is a fine of 300,000 to 500,000 rubles.

The Foreign Ministry wants an explanation from Russia’s ambassador to Oslo after minister visited Svalbard despite being on the list of people sanctioned after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. In Moscow First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Leonid Kalashnikov, is questioning Norway’s sovereignty of Svalbard.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister left Norway’s Svalbard archipelago Saturday evening and flew to the North Pole. On Sunday, he started to send tweets making fun of Norwegian authorities.

Oslo asks Moscow for an explanation after BarentsObserver earlier today reported that Russia’s sanctioned Deputy Prime Minister suddenly appeared on Svalbard.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin on Saturday posted several tweets from Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. Rogozin is on EU and Norway’s sanction list of individuals not allowed entry.

Many more nuclear powered submarines sail the Barents Sea and Arctic Oceans today than only a year ago. And more will come, as both new subs enter service and the Soviet built fleet will be modernized.

Nickel industry in Siberia and on the Kola Peninsula is very good business for investors. Norilsk Nickel set to pay €2,1 billion in dividends for 2014.

Nordic Defence Ministers say Russian aggression and violations of international law and other international agreements forces a more coordinated Nordic preparedness against possible crises or incidents.

Russia’s ruble strengthened to below 53 to US Dollar on Thursday, up 32 percent since end of January. On the Norwegian side of the border, a new mall is hoping for more Russian shoppers.