Arctic rush

You'd think with all our oil the Gov would see it as a good idea to provide people with cheap fuel @ the gas pump.

You don't help drug addicts by giving them cheap drugs...

Russia would be better off if it found other ways to solve its own energy problems... and then sell them to the rest of the world.

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Russia to Set Up Arctic Military Command by 2015

Russia will next year submit Artic Continental Shelf Claim to the UN     


Russia to Finalize Artic Continental Shelf Claim This Fall

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Russia to create united naval base system for ships, subs in Arctic - Putin

GarryB wrote:

You'd think with all our oil the Gov would see it as a good idea to provide people with cheap fuel @ the gas pump.

You don't help drug addicts by giving them cheap drugs...
Russia would be better off if it found other ways to solve its own energy problems... and then sell them to the rest of the world.

Agreed, this is even a bigger problem in Venezuela, where longstanding (pre-Chavez) policy has sold fuel vastly below market price, or even production cost. There it is worse because it gets smuggled out of country because of the huge profit margins. But even in Russia's case it is a bad idea, the stats for how much energy is needed to create 1$ of GDP growth just are horrible for Russia. To an extent, Russia has large distances and cold climate to deal with, but those should make energy efficiency in other areas all the more important. It is not just about raising the price, but also making serious efforts to increase efficiency, which is the ultimate factor in reducing domestic consumption.

There is always news about huge oil/gas reserves in Russia, but most of these are in the far north, some off-shore and some in difficult formations, that will be more expensive to extract. To be using up Russia' currently active cheap production costs fields for un-necessary wasteful domestic consumption is just neglectful of Russia's future. Increasing the internal prices now, and putting those funds into efficiency development will only pay back many times over in the future. Of course no reason to jack prices up instantly, but there can still be a trend towards reducing subsidy, conscious of the process to increase efficiency, and targetting subsidies towards the most vulnerable sectors.

There is also the aspect of spills which affect regions like Komi, destroying nature and resources like fishing while also losing oil. The world's oceans are pushed to the limit, and fishing will be a tight resource in future, so retaining healthy natural fishing is a good resource for Russia to maintain, not to mention ecological and cultural benefits of retaining these areas in good condition.

Same old same old

Pentagon saw in the Arctic potential for conflicts

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Russia to send application to UN to expand Arctic shelf

Initial recoverable resources in Russian Arctic amount to 106 billion

The initial total amount of recoverable resources in the Russian Arctic is estimated at 106 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, including 69.5 trillion cubic meters of gas, Russian Gas Society President Pavel Zavalny said.

According to the expert, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the Russian Arctic’s resources slightly higher at 150 billion TOE.“So far, 60 large hydrocarbon fields have been discovered in the Arctic, of which 43 are located in the Russian sector,” Zavalny said.According to him, the Arctic is home to 30% of the world's undiscovered recoverable gas reserves and 13% of oil reserves.

Nice to hear that .... difference will only grow in time !

Commander in Chief: Russian Air Force did not see the real contenders in the Arctic

Putin launches exploration drilling at West Alfa rig in Arctic Kara Sea

Canada Ready to Use Force Against Russia in the Arctic – Canadian Foreign Minister
MOSCOW, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - Canada is concerned about Russia’s military expansion in the Arctic and is ready to defend its interests in the region using military force, John Baird, Canadian foreign affairs minister, told the Berlingske newspaper Monday.

“We are deeply worried and ready to promote and protect Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic. It’s a strategic priority for us. When it comes to militarization, we would prefer to de-escalate the conflict, but it is clear that we may protect our sovereignty by force,” Baird told the newspaper.......
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140826/192361923/Canada-Ready-to-Use-Force-Against-Russia-in-the-Arctic--Canadian.html

Hmm..... wonder how strong the canadian Navy is?

AlfaT8 wrote:

Canada Ready to Use Force Against Russia in the Arctic – Canadian Foreign Minister
MOSCOW, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - Canada is concerned about Russia’s military expansion in the Arctic and is ready to defend its interests in the region using military force, John Baird, Canadian foreign affairs minister, told the Berlingske newspaper Monday.

“We are deeply worried and ready to promote and protect Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic. It’s a strategic priority for us. When it comes to militarization, we would prefer to de-escalate the conflict, but it is clear that we may protect our sovereignty by force,” Baird told the newspaper.......
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140826/192361923/Canada-Ready-to-Use-Force-Against-Russia-in-the-Arctic--Canadian.html

Hmm..... wonder how strong the canadian Navy is?

I bet Russia is so scared of those Victoria-class submarines! One of them could demolish the entire Northern Fleet! 

All this NATO media dross about "brewing Arctic conflict" seems bizarre.
Russia has pledged to abide by UNCLOSS judgement on EEZ per submitted evidence,
as have all other Arctic nations with potentially overlapping claims re: EEZ.
NATO media hyped up some Russia-Norway conflict for many years as well,
only for Russia to sign an agreement with Norway delimiting the EEZ/maritime boundary.
That never gets mentioned either as relevant background for Arctic maritime conflicts.
The US doesn't really seem to have much EEZ claims in Arctic, their only conflict is with Canada.
But yeah, WW3 is alot more exciting a story I guess.

Yeah, like all other things, the US is bloating the Arctic up... It would be great to see some cooperation to retrieve the natural resources there, but that probably won't happen.

New Artic bases are poping out like mushrooms after the rain

[url=Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: the airfield in the New Earth is ready to receive aircraft]Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: the airfield in the New Earth is ready to receive aircraft[/url]

Sweet! The Arctic is going to be "the" strategic focus of the world possibly after Africa (large oil/gas and mineral reserves for both).

Interesting.. apparently Russia won the lottery in the artic.. and have discovered
a major oil field that will significantly boost Russia economy and tip the balance in the world.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-09-27/russia-discovers-massive-arctic-oil-field-which-may-be-larger-gulf-mexico

Nice

Russia forms two motor rifle brigades for Arctic army grouping

Russia to Form Arctic Command ‘North’ Comprising Two Motorized Infantry Brigades by 2017

MOSCOW, October 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russia’s new Arctic Command, dubbed North, will be formed by 2017 and comprise two arctic-warfare brigades, Commander-in-Chief of the Land Force, Col.Gen. Oleg Salyukov, said Wednesday.

"A combined-arms task force is being formed to protect Russia's national interests in the Arctic," Salyukov told reporters.

"The first brigade is being formed in the Murmansk region, while the second will be formed in 2016 in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district," the general said.

According to Salyukov, the brigades will patrol and defend Russia's coastline in the Arctic, accompany vessels along the Northern Sea Route and demonstrate military presence in the Arctic.

Russia has been seeking to strengthen its military, political and economic position in the Arctic for some time now. In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the establishment of a new state body for the realization of Russian national policy in the region. The president also commissioned the government to prepare a project for a full financial support of the Arctic's development program.

Russian scientists develop monitoring system to guard planned Arctic command

When implemented, the system will protect the northern and western military formations being set up to safeguard Russian interests in the Arctic

YALTA, October 3. /TASS/. Experts from a state research-and-development center are creating a monitoring system to watch over Russia's combined strategic command for the Arctic.

When implemented, the system will protect the northern and western military formations being set up to safeguard Russian interests in the Arctic. Monitoring will extend across the Arctic into the Novya Zemlya archipelago, Franz Josef Land, the Novosibirsk Islands and Wrangel Island.

"We have prepared a concept to monitor underwater, surface, air and space in the Arctic region,” Sergei Boyev, general director of Moscow Mints Radio-Technical Institute, said Friday. He also noted the new system will combine wide-ranging technologies addressing different objectives.

“The system will integrate all these devices," he said, adding that they will monitor a 200-mile zone at reduced costs. Constant coast patrolling will no longer be needed as radar equipment is planned to scan surface waves.

Russia's Arctic military command

The formation of the Arctic military command is part of Russia’s ongoing extensive program to build up military presence in the Arctic. Last March, President Vladimir Putin said that the armed forces’ training and development efforts should incorporate measures to increase the combat component of the Arctic group. The Defense Ministry has since made several steps along these lines.

Russia announced it was recreating its military base on the Novosibirsk Islands in the Laptev Sea. An airfield was opened on Kotelny, the largest island of the archipelago. Another military airport, Rogachyovo, commissioned on the southern island of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, is capable of accommodating fighter jets.

The construction of an airfield in Tiksi, Yakutia’s northernmost locality, inside the Arctic circle, will be completed in 2015. Three airfields - in the Alykel community (the Krasnoyarsk Territory), in Vorkuta (the Komi Republic), and in Anadyr, the administrative center of Chukotka, will be expanded.

Russia Plans to Deploy Troops Along Entire Length of Arctic Border

MOSCOW, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will complete deployment of military units on its territory along the Arctic circle by the end of 2014, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.

"We have been very active in the Arctic region lately, and this year we will have a large number of units deployed along the Arctic circle, practically, from Murmansk to Chukotka," Shoigu announced at a meeting with top military brass in Moscow.

Over the past few years, Russia has been pressing ahead with efforts aimed at the development of its Arctic territories, including hydrocarbon production and development of the Northern Sea Route, which is gaining importance as an alternative to traditional routes from Europe to Asia.

Since the Arctic region is believed to have large reserves of oil and gas, the area is of interest for several other countries as well, including the United States, Canada, Norway and Denmark.

A number of political, economic and military measures have been taken to protect Russia’s interests in the Arctic amid NATO’s increased focus on the region.

On October 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that NATO presence in the Arctic was unnecessary, as there were no problems in the region that would require the alliance's participation. In May, the then NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the bloc had no plans to deploy military forces in the region.

In April, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would build a unified network of military facilities on its Arctic territories to host troops, advanced warships and aircraft as part of a plan to boost protection of the country’s interests and borders in the region.

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Russia to build 13 airports in the Arctic and 10 radar, said the little finger

http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201410281117-1klt.htm

Arctic base "Polar star" in Wrangler island is delivered to Russian army.

Viktor wrote:Nice  

Russia to build 13 airports in the Arctic and 10 radar, said the little finger

Finally, the radar coverage of Russia's Arctic definitely needed upgrading.

Have been expecting this ... and there it is

Russia to Seek Expansion of Continental Shelf Limit: Minister

"In light of research carried out, in accordance with the schedule, our government will submit the arctic application to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. I would like to say that an approval of the Russian application would consolidate Russia's sovereign right to an additional 1.2 million square kilometers of the Arctic Ocean", Donskoy said during a government meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.