Russia will spend 1.5 billion rubles on Svalbard. This corresponds to approximately NOK 300 million. This is what the country’s head of the Ministry of Development in the Far East and the Arctic, Alexej Chekunkov, tells the Russian state-run newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Chekunkov tells the newspaper that Russia plans to modernize the municipal infrastructure in the two Russian settlements in the island kingdom, Barentsburg and Pyramiden. The case was first discussed in Svalbardposten. – Will start in the near future Ildar Neverov is director of Trust Arktikugol, the Russian state-owned mining company that owns and operates the Russian settlements on Svalbard. He confirms the plans for upgrading the infrastructure in Barentsburg and Pyramiden. – Investment must be made in the systems for heating and water supply. The ports must also be improved. The work will start in the near future, Neverov tells news. In addition, there are plans for increased tourist activity in the Russian settlements. Among other things, investments are to be made in new hotels. There are also plans for new museums in both Barentsburg and Pyramiden. – The tourist potential is great. Barentsburg and Pyramiden are among the most visited attractions in Svalbard, says Neverov. This is what the mining town of Pyramiden looks like now: Memorable places In the interview, Chekunkov says that they also have to build new hotels and upgrade the snowmobile fleet. According to the Russian statesman, they want to invest more in cruise tourism. Then he believes they are dependent on attracting private business. – We are arranging these for now, he says to the Russian newspaper. The Ministry of Development is now working on designing an investment plan. It must then be sent to central authorities for approval. – Few people know that there are memorable places in our settlements on Svalbard. The work to upgrade the standard in these places is urgent, says Chekunkov. Senior researcher Andreas Østhagen also believes that the neighboring country to the east has other interests. – It is obvious that Russia is looking around for all possible ways in which they can strengthen their presence around the world. Also in the northern regions and on Svalbard, he says. Senior researcher Andreas Østhagen believes the Norwegian authorities should be skeptical of Russia’s plans. Photo: Fridtjof Nansen Institute Østhagen is employed at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, where he works on Arctic and security policy. Barentsburg’s heyday was during the Cold War. When there were more Russian residents there than there were Norwegians in Longyearbyen. But since then, the population has gradually decreased, and now around 400 inhabitants live in the mining town. – Impossible to handle Østhagen believes it is in Russia’s interest to make Barentsburg more sustainable both economically and politically. By investing in tourism, Russia will be able to increase settlement and employment on the archipelago. – Here, the Russian authorities in Moscow have special interests which are about being present if something happens, and showing that you are capable of having viable communities on the archipelago that Russia recognizes as Norwegian. But still they believe that they have a special bilateral relationship there together with Norway, he explains. An upgrade of Barentsburg and Pyramiden must be within the scope of the Svalbard Treaty. Professor Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen believes that it will be difficult to manage Russia’s investment plans as the world situation is now. Photo: Michael Moreau Professor of Nordic Studies at UiT, Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen, says it would have been a completely different political environment if Russia had put NOK 300 million on the table ten years ago. – We are in a situation now with extreme mistrust from both sides, so it will be completely impossible to handle such questions about investment. Now there is war in Ukraine, and we are waging economic war against Russian society, says Bertelsen. – Have been notified The money has not yet been formally allocated. – This is what it will cost, is what is determined here, says Barents Observer editor Thomas Nilsen to news. Nilsen says Russia has long announced that it wants to invest more in Svalbard. Among other things, on tourism. But the Russian tourism operators’ cooperation with Norwegians was abruptly ended when the sanctions began to come after the invasion of Ukraine. Editor in the Barents Observer, Thomas Nilsen, says that Russia has long announced that it wants to invest in Svalbard. Photo: Kristina Kalinina / news There has previously been close cooperation between Norwegian and Russian tourism players, explains Nilsen. – It has now disappeared. In that context, it is not unnatural that Russia wants to strengthen its own position on Svalbard, says Nilsen.
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Russia will spend 300 million on Svalbard to invest more in tourism – news Troms and Finnmark
