The Sydvaranger mine gets a long awaited permission for renewed mining along Norway’s border to Russia.
Shipping on the Russian Arctic route could amount to 77 million tons by year 2024 if the right projects are implemented, a new government report says.
The two countries agree to look at the establishment of a new military communications channel.
Preferring internett resources, people reads less printed glossy magazines. Consequently, Stora Enso plans to convert the paper mill in Oulu into packaging board production.
Amid growing protests against Arctic drilling, the Norwegian government proposes 48 new oil blocks in the Barents Sea
Research - partner contents
Fram Centre
Climate warming is rapidly altering the physical marine environment in fjords on the west coast of Svalbard towards a more temperate state. Reductions in sea ice cover and increased ocean temperatures are evident, resulting in changes of ice-associated and pelagic ecosystems.
Fram Centre
A valuable development in international oceans governance is the growing importance of regional cooperation. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO, there are currently about 60 international organizations that deal with in regional oceans governance. The increase in the number of these organizations is partly driven by the regional nature of many of the challenges confronting us in the oceans, as is the case is for the Arctic. Another important driver is the provisions on regional cooperation in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention and the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement.
Fram Centre
Higher temperatures in northern waters are not good for everyone. It affects the population of Common Eider in the region.
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Eyes on Barents
In the Murmansk region, the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere was measured at ten times more than the reasonable safety limit.
A several thousand kilometer long fiber optic cable is to be laid along the Russian Arctic coast as part of the Armed Forces’ building of a new closed internet.
Winter temperatures in the Arctic are set to rise by 3 to 5 °C by 2050 even if the world succeeds in cutting emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, according to a new report by the United Nations.
We consider the interaction between our countries on regulation of joint fish stocks an example for all other coastal states, Russian Fishery Agency leader Ilya Shestakov underlined as he this week met with Norwegian special representative of the oceans Vidar Helgensen.
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Travel
China, Singapore, UK and Italy top the list of tourists flying in to northern Finland during Christmas season.
People from Murmansk and northern Norway now have to fly via St. Petersburg or Moscow to get to Arkhangelsk.
Eyes On Barents
The purpose is to show the world that the polar night is not dark, but actually full of colors, says the local project coordinator.
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Rosatomflot’s service base is not sized for all the planned new nuclear-powered icebreakers, says Andrey Zolotkov, who previously worked as engineer onboard one of the service vessels storing spent nuclear fuel.
Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu this week inspected the Poseidon underwater nuclear drone project in Severodvinsk.
The upgrade of Russia’s far northern airfields is almost competed and the naval air force has got enhanced capability to neutralize threats. That includes the ones located under the ice.
The 260 meter long nuclear-powered «Sevmorput» makes a historic voyage through the shallow and icy waters of the Northern Dvina.
The regional treasury is strapped of cash, but natural gas company Novatek still gets almost 12 billion rubles of tax breaks for its Belokamenka project.
It is about lowering the risks, says Finance Minister Siv Jensen. But the decision to kick out oil exploration and production companies from the country’s pension fund could be seen as a first move towards a bigger exit from the energy sector.
Sailing on the route will have to be announced at least 45 days in advance and ships not complying with the rules will be forcibly stopped.
New powerful icebreakers are under construction, but to meet demand the current fleet of nuclear icebreakers in Murmansk will have to sail 5-10 years longer than originally planned.
PHOTOS
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Norwegian Coastal Administration
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Marius Villanger / Norwegian Defense
Photo: KV Bergen / Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: KV Bergen / Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: KV Bergen / Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: Norwegian Coast Guard
Heros of the Great Patriotic war (World War II). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Final match in the sport hall was long ago. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Visitors can today step inside the buildings in Pyramiden. Like this sport hall. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden is situated 50 kilometers north of Longyearbyen. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
".... our northern," reads half of the photo-collection poster left on the wall in the palace of culture. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The red tower of this town sign sculpture is made of old water-pipes from the coal mine. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The grand piano is an original "Red October" (Красный октябрь). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Imagine a Saturday evening when the palace of culture was packed with coal miners listening to classical music. Or maybe there was an Arctic version of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet on stage? Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Soviet fairy tale illustration on the wooden fence outside the school. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The blocks of flats are well preserved by the Arctic climate. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Likely a door to heaven for the coal miners. The sign reads "Beer Bar", but the last pint was emptied 20 years ago. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
No more water in the world's northernmost swimming pool. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
One lonely ice-skate left in the window. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The mechanical workshop for the coal mine. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The entrances to the coal mine are up in the mountain above the town. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
... and yes, it is also the world's northernmost bust of Lenin. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Yes, lots of children lived in Pyramiden, a well functioning family society. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Where people once lived, birds have now taken over. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Svalbard is famous for its bird-watching sites. Although this "bird-cliff" is somehow special. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Why the town was named Pyramiden? Well, take a look at the nearest mountain. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Comrade Lenin has a great panorama view over the town with the Nordenskiold glacier in the background. The town is still state-owned and maintained by the Russian mining company Arktikugol Trust. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
From the shafts, the coal was transported to port via this structure. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coal loading crane in the port of Pyramiden. Operated by the Russians, but Svalbard is Norwegian land. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Nice playground under the Arctic sun, but image how it was to be a child here during polar night. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
USSR-Norwegian friendly connections. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Hammer and Sickle, the symbol of the Soviet Union. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden even had its own cowshed. Nothing's like a fresh glas of milk after a long night in the coal mine at 79 degrees north. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
With a bit of luck you may meet an Arctic fox in between the abandoned buildings in Pyramiden. A bit curious, and not too afraid of humans if you keep a distance. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The hospital. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Children's reading book over a dusty version of the transcripts from the 27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1986), the first congress presided over by Mikhail Gorbachev as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Outdoor sport stadion named after Yury Gagarin, the first man in space. Football field in summer, ice-skating rink during winter. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
In times of climate changes, Pyramiden coal power plant provided both heat and electricity. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden was abandoned in 1998, but the houses are still in rather good shape and are maintained by Arktikugol Trust (Арктикуголь means Arctic coal). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"Kuzbass" is another important coal region for Russia. Pyramiden heliport in the background. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Seems like this building is sad not to house people anymore. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Soviet-style Arctic art made of mosaic on the wall in the cantina. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Really large cooking pots in the cantina. For the coal miners. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Twelve-past-we-left-the-town. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Some plants are thirstier than others. For this one, it is too late. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The party is over. For good. Priviet (hello) vodka. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The main (and only) avenue in Pyramiden is named after the 60th anniversary of the October revolution. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"No smoking". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Map of the world on top of the world. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden coal harbor. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Long time ago, in Pyramiden, a green indoor plant decorated the cantina. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The world's northernmost Palace of Culture. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Once upon a time the world's northernmost kindergarten (rigth) and school (2-storey building). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Part of the port facility in Pyramiden. The Nordenskiöld glacier across the fjord. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden is located in Billefjorden, an appendix fjord in the innermost part of Isfjorden. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Eyes on Barents
According to the Educational Office of the Sámi Parliament in Finland, the textbook situation in schools is terrible, but it is impossible to produce enough new books without more financial resources from the state of Finland.
The State Duma adopts a package of new laws that enables government to crack down on news regarded as «unreliable public information.»
Eyes on Barents
The District Court of Lapland has acquitted all the defendants in the case that dealt with fishing in the river system of Tana.
CEO of Russian private natural gas producer Novatek, Leonid Mikhelson, has a net worth estimated at $24 billion by Forbes.
The blocking in Russia of the Norwegian newspaper is lifted to diplomatic level.
The world’s only ship of its kind will deliver thousands of tons of construction materials to the Arctic LNG 2 project in peninsula Gydan.
Eyes on Barents
Former Murmansk Minister of Natural Resources and Environment has been handed a 3 year stay in the penal colony.
Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide says to the Barents Observer that Moscow now has got the data requested.
Company Total acquires 10 percent of the Arctic LNG 2 project and gains exclusive rights over future developments in Russia’s most prosperous natural gas region.
Eyes on Barents
Approximately 70 percent of Sámi film-makers are women, says Anne Lajla Utsi, the director of the International Sámi Film Institute in Sápmi, the Land of the Sámi.
Russia’s need for year-round petroleum export along the Northern Sea Route is the main driver behind the futuristic icebreaker.
KEiiNO, a Norwegian-Sami group mixing pop, electronica, dance and joik, was crowned as winner of the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix 2019.
While the Norwegian navy is raising its wreaked frigate “KNM Helge Ingstad”, the Russian Northern Fleet frigate “Admiral Gorshkov” has been training submarine hunting west of mainland Norway.
The President was hoping for hosting an Arctic Summit in Lapland this winter, but will instead travel to Putin’s high-level event near the end of Finland’s chairmanship period of the Arctic Council.
Eyes on Barents
At the Utsjoki Court, five Sámi have been accused of fishing offences. They base their fishing on their right to practice Sámi culture – a right pursuant to the constitution of Finland.
Rosneft mulls building of a 600 km long pipeline from its Vankor oil fields to the Kara Sea.
Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide says both herself and Prime Minister Erna Solberg will participate at Russia’s Arctic Forum in St. Petersburg.
Winter warfare capabilities are in focus when Northern Wind kicks off in Norrbotten in March.
Barents Must-Reads
Eyes on Barents
Dan Eriksson, who is a proud gay Sámi today, knows what it is all about. He has lived most of his life in denial about his true self, and he had to go through years of mental ill-being and two suicide attempts before he found the courage to talk.
More fields are coming into production and peak oil is expected in year 2023. Arctic waters are priority No 1, the country’s Petroleum Directorate says.
Both police and rescue services in Northern Norway are deeply worried as GPS signals are interrupted. Public safety and life could in worst case be in danger, warns the police.
This was once upon a time the world's northernmost kindergarten and primary school. Abandoned twenty years ago, Pyramiden coal-mining town on the northern edge of the world is a preserved display of what the Soviet Union wanted to offer in the Arctic if communism worked. It didn’t.
For visitors, the Russian town on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago combines the contrasts of pristine Arctic beauty and Soviet style industry. Nowadays, however, Barentsburg is reshaping its business-focus to become a modern Russian hub for explorer travellers.
Singer Vladimir Martynenko from Murmansk used to tour neighbouring Scandinavia with Russian ballades about faith and love. He was arrested and spent more than 2 years in Lefortovo after refusing to cooperate with the Federal Security Service.