2009 might beat the records with regard to petroleum investments in the Norwegian shelf. There is a planned increase in investments of 1.3 billion EUR.
There is no signs of an acute financial crisis in northern Norway, says Hans Olav Karde, chief executive of the region’s largest bank Sparebank 1 Nord-Norge.
In its bid to provide evidence about the extension of its Arctic shelf, the Canadian government has commissioned two mini-submarines, which are to be sent on missions to the disputed Lomonosov Ridge.
Representatives of 30 European countries today meet to discuss new European Union research initiatives in the Arctic. The conference comes just few days before the EU presents its new Arctic policy document.
In his state-of-the-nation speech today, President Dmitrii Medvedev made democracy development his top priority for Russia. In the speech considered the president’s annual programme document, he also announced several changes in the Russian political system.
Port authorities in Kirkenes, Norway, are preparing for a jack-up operation with the rig “Energy Exerter”, on its way from the Pechora Sea to Scotland. -The fjords outside Kirkenes are perfect for these kind of operations, leader of a local shipping company says.
Gazprom has completed the exploration of the Shtokman field and will not resume geological mapping in the course of the first production phase, a company representative confirms
Russian authorities are preparing for the decommissioning of the nuclear-powered icebreaker “Sibir”. The vessel, which was taken out of service for more than ten years ago, will become scrap metal.
Representatives of Sami communities from all over the Barents Region this week gathered in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, in a protest against what they see as the tourist industry’s misuse of Sami culture.
As the financial crisis is about to turn into a general economic downturn, numerous Russian companies prepares for the dismissal of a major number of employees. The companies fear they might have to sack key personnel.
The mining company LKAB in Kiruna in northern Sweden invests 1,3 billion EUR in mine development. It is the biggest single investment in the company’s history.
The EU hopes to see Russia teaming up with the Union in climate issues ahead of upcoming international climate negotiations. This week, a delegation from the EU Parliament’s Climate Change Committee visited Moscow.
The 70,000 ton ice-protected tanker “Mikhail Ulyanov” will be put on the water in Sankt Petersburg next week. The vessel is one of Russia’s new generation Arctic tankers
