Despite rapidly falling Russian energy consumption, the TGK-1 company plans 40 billion RUB (960 million EUR) of investments this year. The investments will be made in upgrades and expansion of the company’s power plants in Northwest Russia.
The financial crisis is making it far harder for Russian NGOs to raise funding. At the same time, Russian authorities are tightening the screw for the organisations in fear of public unrest following the harder economic times.
The reopening Sydvaranger Mine outside Kirkenes, Norway, will need 350 workers when in full production. Now more than 1000 people from all over Europe have applied for jobs in the in the iron mine located next to the Russian border.
Same procedure as last year: NATO fighters scrambled to identify 87 Russian bombers outside Norwegian territory in 2008. That is just one less than in 2007. This year, Russia starts a modernization program for its fleet of strategic bombers which will boost their capabilities to counter Norwegian F-16 fighter jets.
Sydvaranger Mine owner Northern Iron Limited has signed a contract with British steel company Corus to deliver six million ton of iron ore concentrate each year for the next five years.
The Norwegian Ministry of the Environment administers funds to support environmental projects in Russia. The support is primarily intended for projects in the Russian part of the Barents region.
Recent studies show increased downfall of heavy metals from the melting plant in the Russian border town of Nikel. Norwegian authorities will now intensify monitoring of the emissions.
The Norwegian government demands that the tourism industry in northern Norway speeds up the elaboration of a joint promotion plan for the entire region. However, the industry is still arguing wheather joint efforts will be in the best interest of all or not.
At the end of January the Norwegian border town of Kirkenes will be the venue for one of the Barents Region’s largest cultural festivals, the Barents Spektakel.
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