Atle Staalesen

Government issues 75 new licenses in Norwegian waters

At the same time as the petro-sceptical Liberal Party joins the ruling government coalition, the country’s oil minister announces a record number of new offshore drilling licenses.
January 17, 2018

As ice layers get thinner, ship sets another Arctic speed record

The «Baltic Winter» spent only about five and a half days on its voyage across the Northern Sea Route. Last year’s ice conditions in the area were favorable, Russian transport authorities say.
January 16, 2018

Arctic seaports bustle as shipping on Northern Sea Route reaches new high

A record-beating 9,74 million tons of goods was transported on the Russian Arctic route in 2017. That resulted in a very good year for Murmansk and several other northern Russian ports.
January 16, 2018

On Russian Arctic highway, snow jam creates critical situation

They are built on the snow and are vital transport arteries across the Arctic tundra. But sometimes people and cars get seriously stuck in the middle of nowhere.
January 15, 2018

Moscow makes new punch against the West and its media

Legislators introduce a new set of restrictions against so-called foreign agent media. And the Foreign Ministry calls on the international community to stand up against western democracies and their «total attack on social media»
January 12, 2018

New Arctic rescue base for Nenets coast

It will be located in the settlement of Amderma and be of importance for security along the Northern Sea Route, says Russian Emergency Minister Vladimir Puchkov.
January 11, 2018

Yet another new Arctic LNG tanker comes to Sabetta

The «Eduard Toll» is the fourth ship now shuttling to and from Russia’s new natural gas terminal in the Arctic.
January 11, 2018

Jewish leader in Murmansk raises the alarm

On Christmas eve, someone put Ilya Raskin’s car on fire. The leader of the local Jewish community believes it was a planned act of antisemitism.
January 10, 2018

Foreigners take lead in planning of Russia’s second Arctic LNG project

Engineers from Italy, France, Germany and Norway are crucial for Novatek and its development of the Arctic LNG 2.
January 10, 2018

Erna Solberg is on her way to the White House

According to Donald Trump’s press secretary, the two state leaders will discuss security and defense. According to the Norwegian Prime Minister herself, they will talk also climate and trade.
January 09, 2018

Pages

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