Thomas Nilsen

More than 20 bulldozers, one aircraft, and tons of other gear spread around the Arctic seafloor by Russia's ice base

Drifting ice camp Barneo at 89° North is rebuilt every year in late March, but have you ever wondered what happens to all fuel barrels and bulldozers flown in to facilitate the airfield on the ice?
February 25, 2020

The number of Russians getting Norwegian citizenship almost halved last year

But in 2020 the number is again expected to rise as Norway now allows for dual citizenship.
February 18, 2020

Nuclear-powered «Sevmorput» gears up for Antarctica voyage

The world’s only civilian nuclear-powered cargo ship will later this year bring construction material to the coast of Antarctic aimed for Russia’s research station Vostok in inland Princess Elizabeth Land.
February 15, 2020

Russian Embassy denies accusations of influence operations in Norway

“As normal there are no evidence, just general speculations,” the Embassy writes in a statement to the Barents Observer.
February 13, 2020

Norway’s intelligence chief fears more accidents with Russia's reactor-powered weapons systems

“We should expect development and testing of new, advanced weapons systems in the areas east of Norway. Several of these will have nuclear propulsion systems,” said Director of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, Lt. Gen. Morten Haga Lunde.
February 11, 2020

Russian influence ops seek to fuel discord between Arctic Norway and Oslo, Norwegian intelligence service says

Kremlin seeks to exploit any issue that can create split, said Lt. Gen. Morten Haga Lunde when presenting the Intelligence Service’s 2020 review of security threats to Norway.
February 10, 2020

Electric cruise pioneers start Svalbard sailings with catamaran to be charged by the sun

“The tourists care about their green impact, so the business is obvious,” says Agnes Árnadóttir, co-founder of the Polar tour operator that sails towards an emission-free future.
February 04, 2020

Tromsø sees Norway’s highest rise in hotel prices

2019 became the year when hotels in Tromsø in average earned more per room than hotels Oslo. Winter tourism is a major reason.
February 02, 2020

Norway, Russia border-traffic up 16%, despite freezing cold January

21,880 border crossings were counted in January.
February 02, 2020

North Cape gets world’s northernmost battery-powered tour coaches

The travel industry goes green and the north is no exception when tour-busses aims for zero emission.
February 02, 2020

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Thomas Nilsen is editor of the Independent Barents Observer with its news desk located in Kirkenes, northern Norway. He has a long experience in media cooperation across the borders in the high north of Europe, both as radio- and newspaper reporter all the way back to the days before the breakup of the Soviet Union. 

Nilsen has been editor of Barents Observer since 2009.

He was Deputy Head of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat from 2004-2009. Until 2003, he worked 12 years for the Bellona Foundation’s Russian study group, focusing on nuclear safety issues and general environmental challenges in northern areas and the Arctic. 

Thomas has been traveling extensively across northern Scandinavia and Arctic Russia since the late 80’s working for different media and organizations. He is also a guide at sea and in remote locations in the Russian north for various groups and regularly lectures on security issues, environmental and socio-economic development.

Thomas Nilsen studied at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Mobile: +47-90573143

thomas@thebarentsobserver.com
@nilsen.thomas