News & Views on the Russian presence within the Arctic Circle
7 April 2010
In an interview with Regnum, oil and gas expert Alex Kontorovich, who once stated that the Arctic reserves will be equivalent to the reserves in the Persian Gulf, outlines the steps involved in Arctic development. Kontorovich is an Academician based at the Keremovo Scientific Centre in Siberia (see here and here) and estimates that the results of all the present activity will not be realised... Read More...
17 March 2010
It is stated many times in many places that the northern regions are vitally important for the future of Russia – ‘Развитие Севера – это будущее нашей страны’ is the phrase used in итарр-тасс. As stated here up to 20% of Russia’s economy is based in the northern regions. This week there was a meeting of the... 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...
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...
14 October 2009
This well informed analysis of the problems of developing the Shtokman fields in Yamal and the wider Arctic region makes the point that a ’sufficiently high level of confidence’ is more of an issue in long term projects – ‘Но надо понимать, что эти проекты будут доходны лишь в многолетней перспективе.... Read More...
13 October 2009
Независимая raises, alongside a photograph of Putin, the interesting point that doubts about the effectivity of law in Russia might hamper investment in Russia’s gas projects. The article notes that Gazprom points to a reduction in demand to explain falling investment but there are other issues such as ‘Между тем основные опасения иностранных... Read More...
5 October 2009
санкт петербугре ведомости - The St Petersburg Gazette – contains a very detailed analysis of the many problems that would need to be overcome to put the Russian development plans for the north into action. These include everything from overcoming scientific uncertainty to solving unprecedented extraction and transportion infrastructure difficulties. The... Read More...
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