Murmansk Region Governor Andrey Chibis attended a meeting of the Government Commission on Ensuring Russia"s Presence on the Svalbard Archipelago, chaired by Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District. The meeting"s agenda included issues related to the economic activities of Arktikugol, master plans for the development of settlements where Russia operates, and plans to establish an International Scientific and Educational Center.
"The main Russian company operating on Spitsbergen is the Federal State Unitary Enterprise (FSUE) GT Arktikugol. The company mines coal, services ships, develops tourism, and supports scientific research. For the past several years, the company has been operating under sanctions from Norway. As a reminder, Spitsbergen"s international legal status is defined by the Spitsbergen Treaty of February 9, 1920, and grants over 40 participating states the right to conduct economic activities on the archipelago. However, only Norway and Russia have exercised this right. I want to reassure everyone that, in today"s context of rising international tensions, it is of fundamental importance to us that none of the rights Russia acquired prior to our work are lost," Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.
At the commission"s last meeting in September 2024, an order was given to prepare a master plan for the development of settlements within the Russian presence on Spitsbergen. Vostokgosplan, together with the Arcticugol State Enterprise, developed and presented the corresponding master plans.
"Since 2022, the Arktikugol trust has been under the control of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East. During this time, programs aimed at modernizing the trust"s infrastructure and diversifying its activities have been and continue to be implemented. 65% of its revenue already comes from non-extractive industries, particularly tourism and other services. We will continue our systematic work to ensure Russia"s presence on the Svalbard archipelago," noted Alexey Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic.
Coal mining and tourism are highlighted as promising development areas. Coal mining is expected to maintain sufficient volumes to support the operations of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "GT Artikugol." Last year, work began on upgrading the mine"s equipment in this area.
Tourism development in the Russian presence on the Svalbard archipelago is planned to reach 50,000 tourists per year by 2040. To achieve this, plans include reconstructing buildings for tourism infrastructure, developing tourist routes, and establishing direct connections. In this regard, restoration of buildings in the villages of Barentsburg and Pyramiden has begun. The possibility of establishing a regular sea freight and passenger service between the port of Murmansk and the settlements of the Russian presence on the Svalbard archipelago was discussed. It was noted that from June to October of this year, the research vessel Molchanov completed five consecutive direct international visa-free voyages between Murmansk and the villages of Barentsburg and Pyramiden.
The meeting considered the concept for the establishment of an international scientific and educational center on the Spitsbergen archipelago. The concept was developed in accordance with Yuri Trutnev"s instructions following the meeting of the Government Commission for Ensuring the Russian Presence on the Spitsbergen Archipelago in February 2024.
"The Murmansk Region is Russia"s Arctic outpost, and we fully support the initiative to establish an International Scientific and Educational Center on Spitsbergen. The region has a solid scientific base—the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, and other leading institutions—whose experience could be useful in implementing the project.
"Furthermore, a world-class campus is being created at Murmansk Arctic University, focused on training personnel for work in the Arctic and along the Northern Sea Route. The establishment of the Center opens new prospects for collaboration and joint efforts in this area. We will provide all necessary support to ensure the Center"s successful operation and ensure cooperation with our Murmansk Arctic University," said Murmansk Region Governor Andrey Chibis.
The regional head has proposed creating a base to service the Russian fishing fleet on the archipelago, which will support the industry and ensure stable work for fishermen.
"Despite restrictions imposed by a number of countries and the freezing of joint projects, including those implemented within the Arctic Council, Russia remains open to international cooperation. This also applies to science. Climate stability throughout the world largely depends on the Arctic. We must think about the future, even if some of our foreign colleagues forget. Therefore, we must continue to study permafrost, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the Arctic zone. To address this issue, a new International Scientific and Educational Center will be established on the archipelago. It will serve as a platform for joint Arctic scientific and educational projects with foreign, primarily friendly, countries," said Yuri Trutnev.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region based on materials from the press service of the Government of the Russian Federation /
Photo: Government of the Russian Federation
