arctic environmental technology

The Murmansk region’s growing importance in the energy economy and
logistics creates opportunities also for Finnish companies

Yrjö Myllylä

Exploitation of Russia’s northern energy and ore natural resources as well as traffic through the North-East Passage are significantly adding to the importance of the Murmansk region and creating markets for companies operating in the sectors of Arctic transport, energy and environmental technology. The Murmansk region has a key position in exploitation of Russia’s northern energy and ore natural resources and as a node for navigation through the North-East Passage. A northward shift of Russia’s geopolitical centre of gravity, growth of the world economy and factors associated with climate change have given questions relating to development of the Murmansk region and use of the North-East Passage greater topical relevance than they earlier had. The growing importance of Arctic regions has been accentuated in the strategies of the major powers in the region and of the EU. Finland also began creating her own Arctic regions strategy in the autumn of 2009 (statement by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs 2009).

View the full article, page 170-180:

Myllylä, Yrjö (2010). The Murmansk region’s growing importance in the energy economy and logistics creates opportunities also for Finnish companies. In the book: Kuusi, Osmo & Hanna Smith & Paula Tiihonen (eds.) (2010). Russia 2030 based on contracts. Publication of the Committee for the Future 6/2010. 170-180. <http://web.eduskunta.fi/dman/Document.phx?documentId=vy14010113558959&cmd=download>

See also ”Logistic in Barents -project”

TEM 43/2010: Arktinen ja Itämeren kasvualue Suomen intressien polttopisteessä.

Myllylä, Yrjö (2010). The Growth area of the Arctic and Baltic Sea in the focus of Finland’s interests. 92 p. Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Regional Development 43/2010. Edita Publishing Ltd, Helsinki.

Abstract

The increasing interest of the great powers in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea region, world economic growth and rise of raw material prices, Russia’s geopolitical movement further to the North, climate change and the growth of the trafficability of the North- East Passage are background factors for a change which offers new possibilities for the economical life and employment in Northern Europe.

The report has made suggestions, which could promote the common interest of Finland as well as the whole area and in the implementation Finland could provide special skills, values and a good position in the heart of the region. The dissertation “Industrial, Logistic and Social Development of the Murmansk Region until 2025” by the author where he deals with the future of Murmansk and Northwest Russia would form the most important separate background research to be utilised.

The main conclusions are summarized below in 20 initiatives. In these the main idea and arguments are presented in detail in the actual text of the report. Statement of the report is presented in a total of 70 proposals of development: 1. Northern concept of trust – use of the concept, 2. The research and development program of Arctic transportation, energy and environmental technology, 3. Finland to participate in Aurora Borealis, a ship from which arctic research could be done, 4. An international cluster developing project together with operators in the Murmansk region 5. Baltic Sea Region, preparation of scenarios, 6. Future economic profiles of the Republic of Karelia, Arkhangelsk Oblast, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, 7. The Northern Dimension cluster strategy – clusters developed in Finland from the perspective of the Northern Dimension, a regional profiling, 8. Finland and Northwest Russia as part of the development of tourism in Northern Europe, 9. International language training in the undisturbed environment of the centers of touris , 10. The Russian capital in Finland, 11. New Finnish mining company in Helsinki and London Stock Exchange – business idea should be prospecting, mining rights acquisition in the Barents Region including Finland and the sale of licence rights, 12. Use of the ”Vyborg-option “ – utilisation of the position of the region in Finnish Arctic and offshore shipbuilding skills for the need of Vyborg and St. Petersburg shipyards, 13. Arctic research vessels – a new strategic opportunity, 14. Offshore technology for Arctic conditions, 15. Arctic oil fighting vessels – a platform for innovation in the Baltic Sea, a growing market, especially in the Arctic area, 16. Supply of energy-saving technology and creation of conditions for implementation, 17. Renewable energies, i.e. bio- and wind-energy co-operation, 18. Natural gas network and the development of distribution system in Finland, taking into account the transfer possibilities of wood- and biogas 19. Company Visits – in order to present the technological know-how and Finnish transportation service to people who decide on the logistic of the harbours and shipyards in Murmansk, northwest Russia and the North-East Passage area, 20. Processing of proposals 1-19 for regional projects.

The author is of the opinion that the most important thing to create an impact would be to implement proposal number 20. According to the expert feedback, in order to promote employment the most important proposals are 2., 17., and 7., 8., 11., 14. and 20.