Finland will use its experience from energy cooperation with Russia to support Norway and StatoilHydro in the Sthokman project, Finnish Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Paavo Väyrynen said when visiting the Norwegian Arctic town of Kirkenes today.
Russian oil company Lukoil and diamond major De Beers have signed an agreement, which puts an end to a 15-year-long dispute over the Verkhotinskaya diamond field in Arkhangelsk Oblast.
During its visit to Severodvinsk last week, a delegation from Gazprom inspected two offshore platforms under construction. The platforms will help open the way to the Russian Arctic, delegation leader Aleksandr Ananenkov said.
The delineation of the Norwegian-Russian 175,000 square km disputed zone in the Barents Sea might be on the agenda when Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on 9 June meets with his Russian counterpart in the Norwegian town of Kirkenes. The meeting comes after the powerful Russian oil industry last week indicated that it is ready to start exploration in the area.
The Norwegian Naval Strike Missile is the high-tech weapon which is to be placed on the new Norwegian fleet of frigates. Last week, the first test launch of the missile failed. The failure came the same week as the Navy officially was handed over the third of it five new frigates.
Russian regions participation in European cooperation structures was high on the agenda when EU Commissioner Danita Hübner yesterday met with Russian Minister of Regional Development Dmitrii Kozak.
The foreign ministers of Norway and Russia today agreed that special cross-border travelling conditions must be established for the people living in the two countries border areas.
Over the last year, the number of small enterprises in Arkhangelsk Oblast has increased with more than 1200 to a total of 6400. The small companies now employ 64000 people and account for 27 percent of the regional economy.
Russian federal authorities have allocated 1,5 billion RUB for the upgrade of 150 km of road between the cities of Kandalaksha and Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula. A Finnish company has got the contract.
Russian oil major Gazprom Neft, the oil branch of Gazprom, has offered Chevron, ENI and Shell to exchange assets. Among potential objects for the swap are fields in the Barents Sea.
