Atle Staalesen

UN warning to Norway: growing oil production is inconsistent with climate efforts

Over the next four years, Norway’s petroleum production will increase by 40 percent. A new report from the UN Environment Programme warns the country and other fossile fuel producers that their expanding industries are not compatible with international climate action.
November 20, 2019

Arctic Palladium invests $15 billion in new project, will make Russia world’s biggest producer of rare metal

On the remote Arctic tundra of Norilsk comes a big plant for the production of the glittering and very precious metal.
November 19, 2019

Green light for new seaport in Novaya Zemlya

Russian state experts approve construction plans for the Pavlovskoye seaport in the remote and heavy militarized Arctic archipelago.
November 18, 2019

Shipping on Northern Sea Route up 63 percent

Goods volumes on the Russian Arctic route reaches 26 million tons.
November 15, 2019

Arctic crab invasion reaches new shores

They have conquered the Barents Sea and will continue to expand north- and southwards. King crabs might ultimately make it all the way to the coasts of the UK.
November 14, 2019

26 new tanks now deployed in borderland

The Northern Fleet complements its motorized infantry units with a series of new and powerful T-80BVM tanks.
November 14, 2019

Russian military inspectors come to Norway’s northern brigade

Moscow wants to know more about the country’s buildup of military capacities in the north.
November 12, 2019

Closure of Nikel plant due late 2020

A gradual halt in production is likely to take place before Nornickel fully closes its smelter in the Russian border town.
November 12, 2019

New strategic submarine tests torpedoes in northern waters

The «Knyaz Vladimir» has successfully fired torpedoes on underwater and surface targets in the White Sea, the Northern Fleet informs.
November 11, 2019

Nickel plant faces closure, locals fear their town is doomed

The toxic smoke that for decades has embraced the borderlands between Russia and Norway might soon vanish. It will help save and restore vulnerable nature. But the local population worries that Nikel will end up as an abandoned ghost town
November 08, 2019

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Atle is journalist and Publisher of the Independent Barents Observer.

In 2002, he founded the Barents Observer. He was editor until 2009 and later worked as journalist and project coordinator for several European cross-border cooperation projects. In late 2015, following a conflict over editorial rights, he re-established the Barents Observer as an independent and non-profit stock company along with the rest of the newspaper crew.  

Atle has a degree in Russian studies from the University of Oslo and studied journalism at the Moscow State University.

atle@thebarentsobserver.com
@atlestaalesen