Thomas Nilsen

Norway deploys radiation drones along its coast amidst nuclear emergency concerns

Five Coast Guard ships are soon to carry drones with sensors capable of detecting radioactivity in case of a maritime accident involving a potential release from a reactor-powered civilian or military vessel.
December 03, 2021

Putin praises China and paves way for stronger Arctic energy deal

Russia expects Chinese banks soon to sign financing agreements for Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project.
November 29, 2021

Deep freeze in Arctic Europe sends power prices soaring

Exceptional cold is affecting northern Scandinavia and Russia’s Kola Peninsula with temperatures below -30°C.
November 28, 2021

Full speed ahead for Russia’s new fleet of giant icebreakers

Both the "Arktika" and "Sibir" have been on sea trials in the Gulf of Finland this week, while construction work on the "Ural", "Yakutia" and "Chukotka" continue according to schedule.
November 26, 2021

Foreign Minister calls for better supercharger network in remote north

Finland will in its Presidency of the Barents Council initiate improvements for a charger network for electric vehicles to be available also in areas with low population densities and long distances, says FM Pekka Haavisto.
November 25, 2021

Russian warship sailed close-up to Norwegian naval exercise FLOTEX 21

The destroyer “Vice-Admiral Kulakov” and support vessels are conducting combat training missions in the Norwegian Sea says the press service of the Northern Fleet.
November 25, 2021

Busiest ferry routes inside Arctic Circle go electric

Norway’s successful transition to zero-emission transport sector continues. By the end of 2022, the last remaining ferry connection along European route E6, Bognes-Skarberget, will operate on batteries.
November 23, 2021

EU willing to co-fund lifting of sunken nuclear subs from Arctic seabed

The Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP) has decided to start a technical review aimed to find a safe way to lift two Cold War submarines from the Barents- and Kara Seas.
November 22, 2021

Russia hit own satellite with missile from Plesetsk

Crew members on the International Space Station had to board their lifeboats after the blasted satellite caused 1,500 pieces of debris were coming their way.
November 16, 2021

Moscow dissatisfied with Norwegian navy visit to Arctic archipelago

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Friday said the recent navy visit to Svalbard is the latest step by Oslo in a series of successive actions to include this territory in the sphere of national military development.
November 12, 2021

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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