News & Views on the Russian presence within the Arctic Circle
26 April 2010
In the light of concerns about the relative (declining?) position of the west in the world, such as these expressed in this book by an HSBC economist, I often wonder whether it would be better if western countries couldn’t fix on a more coordinated approach to issues such as Russia’s development of the Arctic region. Medvedev’s visit to Norway to discuss such... Read More...
31 March 2010
While the meetings between the Arctic Five took place in Canada there were many reports of increased geographic activity from the Russian side. риа-новости and other sources have reported that the state budget for geography wil have increased by 6.3% during 2010. GZT.ru reports on a completed application to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for an extension... Read More...
11 March 2010
From local sources in Murmansk it is always possible to discern larger scale developments between nations and companies. Thus a delegation from France’s total have been meeting with the Mayor of Murmansk to discuss the implementation of the Shtokman project – Total has a 25% stake in the development company. Meanwhile the Norwegians – with their 24% stake - have... Read More...
17 February 2010
Despite some recent doubts about the immediate future of the field, the latest on the Shtokman project is that Russian companies are now bidding to build the platforms and rigs, and the various ships, barges and pontoons needed for the project. прийm-тасс carried an article by one Dmitry Lyutyagin from Veles Capital who is optimistic about the long-term prospects for Gazprom. It... Read More...
1 February 2010
In developing plans for pipelines and oil and gas terminals it appears as though Gazprom is pressing ahead with the development of the Shtokman field in the Barents Sea despite some ‘foreign’ doubts about its profitability in the short-to-mid-term gas market. According to this report the head of Gazprom states that the ’проект будет обязательно... Read More...
28 January 2010
In what could only really be described as an amazing bit of news хибины.ru is reporting that Gazprom could be forced to abandon its ambitious plans for the development of the Shtokman field in the Barents Sea. There have been indications before that confidence in the project was shaky and, if these predictions are true, then this would be a massive blow to Russia’s Arctic... Read More...
14 January 2010
As delegates prepare for the conference Arctic Frontiers, to be held in Tromso Norway later this month, which will focus on the ’sustainable’ development of the northern regions (all development now has to be of this kind), the environmental group Bellona writes of Gazprom’s gasification plans for the Murmansk region and the environmental risks that it may produce, including:... Read More...
10 December 2009
мурманск-вестник, always a good source, closer to the gritty realities of Arctic Russia today than many of the big nationals, carries what can only be described as a public annoucement. Dimitry Dmitrienko, Governor of Mumansk Oblast, sees a busy future for Murmansk, with increases in wages and over 3/4 of a billion roubles being spent in the region. He emphasizes ‘ the... Read More...
13 November 2009
Полит.ru writes about something that has not been mentioned for some time, the plans for a floating nuclear power station, know as Project Патес. The project appears to have a number of purposes and is designed to play an integral role in Russia’s Arctic Development plans, thus Gazprom intends to use it for, ‘для энергообеспечения добычи и... Read More...
7 November 2009
This article in новости.mail.ru is a good example of how the Russian leadership sees an emerging new energy order rather than a new cold war. The article begins with an account of how Danish-Russian relations have not been good lately, because of Denmark’s handling over the stay, in Denmark, of a wanted Chechen leader. Soon after there were problems because of Chilingarov’s... Read More...
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