Thomas Nilsen

Arctic Frontiers kicks off with majority of speakers from south of the Arctic Circle

“It’s painting a glossy image, near to neo-colonialism.” President of Norway’s Sámi Parliament, Aili Keskitalo, calls for better dialogue with the people living up north.
January 21, 2018

The north goes electric, planes next on list

With tens of small airports and many short-haul flights, northern Norway is ideal for introduction of electric passenger aircrafts.
January 18, 2018

Nordavia considers direct flights to Oslo

Northern Russia could again be connected with Norway as Nordavia draws a new route map from Murmansk.
January 17, 2018

Murmansk birth rate continues to drop

Russia’s demographic situation is once again deteriorating, and more so in Murmansk than in average.
January 17, 2018

Russia drills nuclear forces, strategic bombers along coast of Norway

Extreme wind conditions hindered Norway to scramble F-16s.
January 15, 2018

Norway’s government goes green, keeps Lofoten free of oil drilling

Coalition government expands to include the Liberal Party. That gave a greener political platform.
January 14, 2018

From this secret base, Russian spy ships increase activity around global data cables

Olenya Bay on the coast of the Barents Sea is home to a fleet of nuclear powered spy submarines and surface vessels which NATO now says are dramatically stepping up activities around undersea data cables in the North Atlantic.
January 12, 2018

Meanwhile in Apatity, armoured vehicle driver rams shop window for a bottle of wine

January 11, 2018

Lundin drills dry, again

2018 starts like 2017 ended. Yet another dry well in the Barents Sea.
January 10, 2018

Nine million border-crossings between Finland and Russia

Boost in traffic at Finland’s northernmost checkpoint to the Kola Peninsula.
January 08, 2018

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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