Atle Staalesen

Moscow wants to know more about oil potential at Svalbard, re-examines drill samples from 1975

Almost 50 years after Soviet oilmen drilled in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago, the Russian government commissions a new analysis of the well samples.
September 02, 2019

Governor of Murmansk to Putin: Our strategically important region deserves better

We have run-down healthcare, dramatic out-migration and unsatisfactory living conditions for our armed forces, says Andrey Chibis as he sits down with the President.
August 30, 2019

Companies build Arctic mega-projects, get billions in tax cuts

Natural gas company Novatek gets 40 billion rubles tax deductions for the building of a grand port terminal in the Gydan Peninsula. The deal is one of a series of tax benefits for the companies investing in Russia’s new Arctic projects.
August 29, 2019

Foreign Ministry rebuffs international concern over environment on Northern Sea Route

We will do whatever necessary to provide security to marine traffic and protect the very vulnerable ecosystem, says ministry press spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
August 29, 2019

Reshaping the Arctic map. Retreating ice reveals new Russian land

A 54,500 square meter big island is one of several pieces of land that has been discovered in the Russian Arctic.
August 28, 2019

There is no ice left on Northern Sea Route

But the number of ships that set course for the Arctic route still remains low.
August 28, 2019

Russia’s new Arctic missile system comes to Pechenga Valley

A battalion of short-range missile system Tor-M2DT has been deployed to garrisons located along the border to Norway and Finland.
August 27, 2019

Arctic troops stage large exercise on tundra near Russia's biggest nickel plant

Smoke in the air as Russian forces exercise in the Taymyr Peninsula. It shows that we are ready to protect Russian economic interests in the Arctic, says head commander of the Northern Fleet
August 27, 2019

Gloom in horizon as Russia announces it will boost digging of coal

Climate crisis and environmental concern notwithstanding, the country says it aims for a big dig of the carbon-rich rock. Much of it will be extracted in new Arctic fields.
August 23, 2019

Natural gas company strikes Arctic deal with Ministry of Defense

The projected reloading terminal for LNG in Ura Bay outside Murmansk has been fully approved by Russian military authorities, Novatek leader Leonid Mikhelson assures.
August 23, 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