Arkhangelsk top news in March

WEEK 9 (March 1-6)

New Land for the Shtokman

During the video conference with representatives from Shtokman Development AG top officials from the regional Government, Customs Authorities, Frontier Department in the Federal Security Service of the Arkhangelsk Oblast, Rosgranitsa (Russian Border Services Agency) discussed participation of the Arkhangelsk oblast in the Shtokman project. Delegation from Shtokman Development AG is planning to arrive to Arkhangelsk in the middle of March, and the video conference was meant to prepare for the visit. During the video meeting the participants talked about developing the most efficient procedure for customs operations, and also how to give Rigachevo aerodrome on the Novaya Zemlya the status of joint airport for performing regular transit deliveries of specialists, including foreign workers, to the Shtokman location.

Judicial clinics from Russia and Norway continue cooperation

From January 31 to February 4 representatives from judicial clinic in the Pomor State University had a return visit to the judicial clinic of the Northern Norway (Jusshjelpa i Nord-Norge) which is in Tromsø. The main purpose of the visit was to establish good contacts for further cooperation between the clinics. During the visit Cooperation Treaty between the judicial clinics has been prepared; representatives from both clinics discussed a lot of hot issues relevant for their legal activities. In addition to every day professional work the teachers and students also communicated informally and went sightseeing in Tromsø. Another visit is planned in this academic year from Tromsø to Arkhangelsk with the support from the Barents Secretariat. The main goal of the project is to try and use the valuable experience of the Norwegian colleagues in developing judicial clinics in Arkhangelsk. Such institutions allow the students to not only acquire professional experience and help people, but also to understand the true meaning of justice and law in general.

The year of the Pomor culture has acquired international status

The year of the Pomor culture – 2011 has acquired international status. This happened thanks to the Russian-Norwegian Pomor Treaty signed during the visit of ex-Minister of foreign affairs of Norway Thorvald Stoltenberg to Arkhangelsk. The main idea of this unique document is participation of the parties in the new joint cross-border projects on the territory of the Barents region, cooperation between them with the purpose to unite their resources and use them to preserve, study and refresh joint cultural heritage of Norway and Russia.

Fuel switch to bioenergy

At the meeting with the Heads from the relevant regional ministries Governor Ilya Mikhalchuk gave a task to develop a plan for using wood wastes in the bio energy sector and in five years give up using coal and black oil as fuel. The main topic of the meeting is modernization of the regional energy sector and transition of boilers to the local fuels. Different wood wastes are produced during woodworking operations – bark, branches, edges, leaves, woodchips, etc. It is necessary to think of a separate utilization scheme for each of them.

Norwegian energy-saving technologies are being tested in Russia

A joint project by the Narvik University college and the Northern (Arctic) Federal University is going on to test an energy-efficient wooden house. The house was fabricated at one of the house-building factories in Norway according to the Norwegian standards. It has been erected behind the Building 2 of the N(A)FU. The main idea of the experiment is to see if the hi-tech Scandinavian house is good for the Russian North. Preliminary results of the observations made by the young scientists show that the “clever house” is efficient and such innovations should be introduced in Russia.

Railway bridge across the Northern Dvina River in Arkhangelsk needs reconstruction

Railway bridge across the Northern Dvina River in Arkhangelsk will be reconstructed. This is necessary in order to ensure passage for marine vessels during winter time. When the bridge was designed the lifting device was not meant to be used in severe frosts. For many years the bridge was being raised many times in winter, thus the lifting device has been worn out and needs repairing. In 2006 after examination it was prohibited to raise the bridge when the temperature is below -21 Celsius. This winter when the temperature was often below this limit the situation was close to catastrophic. Ship-owners and timber companies, including the foreign ones, had to bear really great losses.

WEEK 10 (March 7-13)

Transportation and logistics concept of the region

Meeting devoted to the development of transportation and logistics complex of the region was arranged in the Ministry of industry, transport and communication of the Arkhangelsk Oblast. The main objective which the Ministry and the local companies face at present is to work out strategy for the development of the Arkhangelsk transportation hub, to strengthen its position and to enhance the role of the Pomor capital as one of the most important sea ports of the country. But in order to implement that it is necessary to create favourable conditions here in the region. In the nearest future a special working group will be established with the purpose to work out the concept for the development of the Arkhangelsk transportation and logistics hub.

The Arkhangelsk Governor going down the ratings

Seven Russian Governors can be dismissed in the nearest future. They are the Governors of the Kursk, Kurgan, Arkhangelsk, Moscow, Omsk, Tver and Tula Oblasts. The former two were given “one” in the new “Rating of political survival of the Governors”, the other five were given “two”. The dismissals are expected to take place this spring, because later this year everybody will be too busy with preparing for the December elections to the State Duma. The political survival of the Arkhangelsk Governor, according to the experts, is threatened by his low popularity and numerous conflicts inside the regional elite. In the previous rating the political perspectives of the Governor Mikhalchuk were measured to “three” points.

Is Belkomur moving away from Arkhangelsk to Murmansk?

The RF Ministry of transport has intentions to re-direct the Belkomur railroad from the Arkhangelsk port to the Murmansk port, since focus on Arkhangelsk might hamper the project implementation as there are no guarantees that the deep-sea harbour will be constructed in Arkhangelsk. At the same time the new railroad will perfectly fit the concept of the Murmansk transportation hub. The position is yet perceived in Arkhangelsk as a private opinion of the Deputy Minister and the local authorities are still determined to convince and prove in the RF Government and to the investors that Belkomur should go to Arkhangelsk. At the same time, with Belkomur, or without it – the Arkhangelsk harbour still has good perspectives. The Murmansk port has some problems. It has single track road and this factor is limiting the cargo flow. The Arkhangelsk harbour does not have such problems. Arkhangelsk can, for instance, lessen the burden of the St.-Petersburg harbour which is facing serious logistic challenges at present. It is necessary to differentiate cargo flows. Murmansk mostly works with gas-condensate, oil, and bulk cargo, while Arkhangelsk can be operated as a container terminal.

 A Norwegian artist will decorate a northern city

Famous in Norway artists Skott Thoe will take care of the outlook of the town Kotlas – he is going to turn the front wall of a huge building (Kotlas flour mill) into a metropolitan city. Skott has been registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as an author of the largest outdoor painting on the wall of a shipyard in Norway. For his creative work the artist is planning to use locally produced material – cellulose. According to the artist there are many buildings in Kotlas and Koryazhma which need to be redecorated on the outside. But the most challenging facility from this point of view is the flour mill in Kotlas, on the opinion of the Norwegian artist. After the work is finished it might become the largest piece of art in the world, and at the same time a monument to the pulp-and-paper industry.

 WEEK 11 (March 14-20)

Sevmash is still in debt for Odfjell

Court of cassation in Saint-Petersburg obliged Sevmash to pay about 50 million USD to the Norwegian company Odfjell. This is the second verdict in Russia made in favor of the Norwegian shipping company.

Sevmash is busy with work for this year

Sevmash has a really hard production plan for this year: the shipyard has to deliver 3 nuclear submarines to the Russian Navy, and in autumn it will have to start testing of the aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy, says Director General of Sevmash Nikolay Kalistratov.

Level of unemployment is growing in the Oblast

According to statistics, the number of unemployed in the region has grown since the beginning of the year. At early March the number of unemployed was estimated to be 15872 people. Since the 1st of January this year 428 inhabitants of the Arkhangelsk Oblast have lost their jobs. At present the level of registered unemployment is 2.3%. Intensity ratio is 1.9 people per 1 job vacancy.

Northern Arctic Federal University has adopted a new Statute

A new Statute of the Northern Arctic Federal University was adopted on March, 14. The need for the new Statute appeared after the reorganization of the University through its merging with the Pomor State University, Severodvinsk Technical College and Arkhangelsk Forestry College. Now NArFU has its branches in Kotlas, Naryan-Mar, Koryazhma, and Severodvinsk. Another important and very disputable issue was settled at the meeting. It concerns the abbreviation in the name of the Federal University: it is incorrect to use brackets in the abbreviation, and it should be pronounced with the stress on the last syllable.

Shipbuilding is a leader in the local production sector

Shipbuilding industry was leading in 2010 in the Arkhangelsk Oblast in terms of the growth of industrial production (the growth was more than 50%), said the Governor Ilya Mikhalchuk reporting to the Deputies of the Regional Assembly.

Russian-Norwegian project for establishment of common labour market

A delegation from Norway arrived to the Arkhangelsk Oblast with a proposal for cooperation. The delegation was made up of the representatives from Norwegian chambers of industry and commerce from Troms and Nordland Counties, Statoil, Regional Board of Northern Norway, as well as companies Orto and Bedriftskompetanse Vinn. The Norwegian project “Technical personnel for oil and gas and mining industries in the High North. Recruiting, training, and integration” has an objective to train highly qualified personnel with active participation of business. The need for such a project was triggered by lack of qualified engineers and technical experts in oil and gas and mining industries in Northern Norway. The projects initiators are convinced that it is essential not only to train relevant specialists, but also make them interested and willing to stay in the region. In the course of the discussions the Norwegian guests and representatives from NArFU outlined possible ways for cooperation.

Sevmash needs several thousands of workers

Sevmash in Severodvinsk is facing significant growth of state order, growth of industrial production, including civil shipbuilding. Director of Sevmash Nikolay Kalistratov says that in the nearest future the shipyard will need extra 7000 workers.

Maritime conference in Arkhangelsk

Research and practical conference “Regional science as a basis for further development of maritime activity in the Arkhangelsk Oblast” was arranged in Arkhangelsk, where the participants talked about development of technologies for cargo operations on the open roadstead, transshipment of out-sized cargo, movement of caravans of vessels with the support of ice-breakers, productions on the Arctic shelf as a new stage in the development of the Northern Sea Route.

Bulava will be put into service in 2012

According to the existing plans the testing of the sea-based strategic missile complex Bulava should be completed by the end of 2011. Legal procedure for putting Bulava into service at the Russian Navy in case of successful testing can be implemented in 2012. Testing of Bulava can be performed simultaneously with the testing of the subsea missile carrier Yuri Dolgorukiy and by the end of this year they have to meet in one and the same point.

Investments in the regional economy are growing

According to the official statistics, foreign investments in the economy of the Arkhangelsk Oblast in 2010 amounted to 723 million USD. This is the third best figure in the North-west of Russia and the 15th place among 83 regions all over the country. Investments in the fixed assets amounted to 78 billion 647 million rubles. This is the fourth best result in the North-western area and the 24th place among the Russian regions. It became possible to achieve such impressive results due to the serious work on the investment legislation during 2009-2010.

Space launching site Plesetsk will receive money from the federal budget

RF Ministry of regional development is planning to give about 2.7 billion rubles in 2011-2013 for the development of infrastructure around space launching site Plesetsk in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. All the money will be spent for construction and reconstruction of houses, communal networks and automobile roads in the town Mirny.

New submarine of the fifth generation will be built in Russia

New submarine of the fifth generation will be created in Russia. At present the Russian Navy is armed with the submarines of the third generation. The main submarines of the fourth generation – strategic nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgoruky and the multi-purpose nuclear submarine Severodvinsk – only undergo testing in order to be included in the naval fleet. The concept of the new nuclear submarine involves unified hull both for multi-purpose and for strategic submarines. Submarines of the fifth generation will be distinguished by less noise, automated control systems, safe reactor and long-range weapons, namely long-range cruise-type missiles and torpedoes.

 International festival in the Northern Arctic Federal University

International festival with foot tapping Latin American and African dances, romantic Indian songs and soulful folk Russian chants was arranged in the Northern Arctic Federal University. The fourth festival on national cultures «Arkhangelsk International» had been prepared by foreign students from all the local educational establishments and with the support from the Northern Arctic Federal University and the Northern State Medical University.

WEEK 21 (March 21-27)

Construction boom in the Arkhangelsk Oblast

The Arkhangelsk Obalst ranked second in the North-West of Russia in 2010 in terms of rate of growth of housing construction (it was 110.1%). This position is number 2 in the North-West of the country and number 9 among all the Russian regions. The Oblast is also among leaders in the North-West of Russia in terms of volumes of housing construction: in 2010 there were built 268.2 thousand square meters of housing in the Oblast. This is two times more than in the Karelia and Pskov regions, 4 times more than in the Komi Republic, 10 times more than in the Murmansk Oblast. The leaders in the North-West of Russia in terms of the volumes of the housing construction are St.-Petersburg and the Leningrad Oblast.

Nordic countries and NW of Russia unite their efforts to fight against HIV/AIDS

A project “Social partnership to fight distribution of drug addiction, HIV/AIDS in the North-West of Russia” continues to create sustainable and long-term partnership between organizations in the North-West of Russian and Nordic Countries within prevention of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS. Co-financing for the project has been given by the Nordic Council of Ministers. As a sub-project it is planned to arrange from March 27 to April 02 a study trip for Russian experts to the Nordic Countries (Norway and Finland) to study policy, legislation, practical experience and cross-sectoral cooperation between authorities, municipalities, and NGOs in the field of prevention of NIV/AIDS and drug addiction.

 Forum of young politicians in Arkhangelsk

3rd International Forum of young politicians from the North-West of Russia and the Nordic Countries was held in Arkhangelsk. The Forum provided opportunities for young politicians to exchange experience, information and new ideas how to solve the problems relevant for young people. During the arrangement the Forum participants discussed issues related to the youth cooperation experience in the Nordic region, youth employment, development of education, and emphasised the importance of visa-free regime for the development of cross-border cooperation between young people.

Representative office of the Kolarctic program has been established in Arkhangelsk

Second call for project applications under the Kolarctic ENPI CBC programme has been announced. Information seminar will be arranged in Arkhangelsk on April 12 for local companies which are interested to participate in the second call. In order to make the participation of the Arkhangelsk Oblast in the program more efficient and help local companies in the fund-rising process a representative office of Kolarctic program has been established in Arkhangelsk.

Russia and Norway are against domestic violence

International workshop «Justice for women in the Barents region» was arranged in the Northern Arctic Federal University under the Russian-Norwegian project «JUWOBA». Its main objective is to unite efforts of two countries in order to help women in trouble. The participants of the workshop discussed how to protect women and children from domestic violence. Among them were representatives from judicial authorities, police, prosecutor’s office, health care, social policy, and crisis centres from Russian and Norwegian cities.

 IT-technologies for Nordic universities

Russia, Finland and Sweden are launching a joint project for development of IT-education which is financed from the Kolarctic ENPI CBC program. The main objective of the cooperation is to integrate educational programs to train specialists within information and communication technologies. Besides, it is planned to develop innovative software and create a common computer network, which would make distant learning and cooperation between universities much easier. The parties had their kick-off meeting in the NArFU.

NArFU is a high priority partner for Statoil

Statoil and the Northern Arctic Federal University discussed a number of measures and concrete plans for implementation of the Cooperation Agreement signed by NArFU and Statoil in September 2010 during the Days of Norway in Arkhangelsk. The University is considered by Statoil as a priority partner in the fields of innovation, personnel training and research activities in the area. In the course of the discussions the parties agreed on the action plan and outlined basic cooperation activities.

V Rectors’ Forum of the University of the Arctic

Rector and Vice-rector from NArFU took part in the V Rectors’ Forum of the University of the Arctic. It was arranged in Kautokeino. The main issue of the V Rectors Forum was «Challenges with research and education of indigenous peoples and non-indigenous communities in the Arctic». The Forum is arranged by the Sámi University College in cooperation with the Sami Institute of education in Inari (Finland). Arctic Institute of reindeer breeding was also opened during the Forum.

Statoil and the Regional Government continue their cooperation

Ministry of youth affairs, sports and tourism of the Arkhangelsk Oblast and Statoil discussed further implementation of joint projects. It is planned that in 2011-2012 within the Memorandum of cooperation they will continue to work on socially significant projects in the areas of education, health care and culture.

Multilateral project for tourism development in the Barents region

A new international project “State-public partnership within tourism in the Barents region/BART” was launched in Rovaniemi (Finland). The project is implemented under the the Kolarctic ENPI CBC programme. Project coordinator from the Arkhangelsk Oblast is the regional ministry on youth affairs, sports and tourism. The project which unites regional authorities, scientific and educational establishments, small and medium businesses is aimed at working out a joint strategy for tourism development in the Barents region, as well as introduction of new efficient mechanisms for development of state-public partnership. A specific task for the project is to carry out marketing research on the tourist market of the region.

Pirates will go to jail

Arkhangelsk regional court has delivered judgement for 6 citizens from the Baltic states, who captured dry-cargo carrier Arctic Sea in 2009. They have been found guilty for piracy and sentenced to imprisonment from 7 to 12 years each. Besides the court obliged them to pay 50 000 roubles to every affected person in the crew for the moral damage.

Large problems of the small business

In January-February this year in the Arkhangelsk Oblast there was made a survey among 1200 entrepreneurs from all the regional municipalities. The results of the survey showed that most of the businessmen do not feel confident, are left to themselves and due to numerous daily challenges and obstacles are close to give up their businesses. For example, the regional Government declares to provide integrated targeted support for private businesses from regional financial sources, however a lot of entrepreneurs did not know anything about that and could not use the offered possibility. This means that the measures taken by the regional authorities are not efficient enough.

Ilya Mikhalchuk is again on the top of the rating

Ilya Mikhalchuk is on the top of the rating of NW Russian Governors according to the dynamics of information favoured index, among 83 Governors from all the Russian regions Ilya Mikhalchuk is in the top 10. The rating was made by the MEDIALOGIA company and is based on the number of references in mass media and the information favoured index of the Russian Governors in February 2011. According to many political experts, the decisive role in this achievement of the Arkhangelsk Governor has been played by 150 million roubles from the regional budget given by the Regional Government to inform the population of its work and activities. It is exactly the pre-paid publications which ensured high position in the rating for the Governor.

Prirazlomnaya platform will start its voyage in summer

In late June – early July this year the offshore ice-resistant fixed platform Prirazlomnaya will be tugged from Murmansk to the field. The platform will be positioned on the shelf of the Pechora Sea 60 km away from the coast and not far from the Varandey settlement. Sea depth on site is around 19 meters. The reserves of the deposit are estimated to be 46.4 million tons of oil. The platform will make it possible to perform all necessary technological operations all year round: well drilling, oil production, storage, offloading to tankers, production of heating and electrical energy. This was announced by General Director of Gazprom Neft Shelf Alexander Mandel in Naryan-Mar at the international conference EuroArctic-2011.

Russian-Norwegian project for juvenile delinquents

Beginning with September this year the staff of the Arkhangelsk juvenile correction facility will be taught the basics of the ART program. This is a special methodology focused on relieving aggression of the convicted youngsters. During a year a coach from Norway will have classes with a group of 10 people including teachers, psychologists and social workers from the juvenile prison. One of the main activities within the course is to work with the families of the youngsters at risk. The project will be financed by the Norwegian partner. During a week of a Russian-Norwegian cooperation seminar «Cross-sectoral experience exchange for prevention of juvenile delinquency and re-integration of children and youths having problems with the law in the Barents region» experts from Norway visited professional colleges, centres for protecting the rights of juveniles, court, as well penitentiary institutions in Arkhangelsk. Summing up the results of the trip the experts from Norway suggested implementing here the ART program.

WEEK 13 (March 28-31)

A new stage of the Russian –Norwegian project for employment

A new stage of the Russian-Norwegian project Sislab starts in Arkhangelsk. The goal of the project is to assist in the employment of people who are not employed, but have high or secondary professional education, through acquiring additional competences and mastering technologies of job searching. The system for training and assistance for the project participants is innovative. The program is financed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.

AirBaltic cancels its flights from Arkhangelsk to Europe

Direct flights from Arkhangelsk to Riga and back that were planned to start in May 2011 are cancelled and indefinitely postponed. The reasons for that are challenges that the Latvian company AirBaltic is facing at present.

In 2 years Rectors’ Forum of the University of the Arctic will be hosted by Arkhangelsk

At the V Rectors’ Forum of the University of the Arctic it was confirmed that in 2013 the VII Rectors’ Forum will be hosted by the Northern Arctic Federal University in Arkhangelsk. For two years the staff of the University will be preparing for the arrangement and identify the key topic of the Forum, which will be the basis and the centre of all the discussions.

Arkhangelsk will host the Arctic Forum in September – preparations at full speed

Arkhangelsk is preparing to host the Second International Forum «The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue» on September 21-24 this year. The key topic of the Forum is defined as development of arctic transport infrastructure: the Northern Sea Route, safety of the Arctic traffic routes, infrastructural projects, including Belkomur. The number of the Forum participants will be around 500 people – polar explorers, researchers, Russian and foreign experts. The list of arrangements under the Forum has already been identified, as well as the social events within the program.

Russian-Norwegian cultural project

A new Russian-Norwegian cultural project has been started named “Youth Arctic Dialogue”. It is implemented under the program for cooperation between young talented people from 13 to 20 from the Arkhangelsk Oblast and the Troms County «Youths of the Arctic – Cooperation Through Art». The first meeting of the Russian and Norwegian project participants will take place during the youth art festival UKM Arctic-Troms, which will be arranged in Finnsnes (Troms County) on April 4-11, 2011. The return visit by the Norwegian participants to the Arkhangelsk Oblast is planned during the youth forum “Team-29” which is to take place in Koryazhma on July 23-30.

Preliminary results of the population census 2010

According to preliminary results of population census 2010 the Arkhangelsk Oblast, including NAO has 1,228,056 people as permanent inhabitants. Comparing to the census 2002 the regional population has reduced by 108.5 thousand people (8.1 %). As before, the most populated places are Arkhangelsk (355,714 people), Severodvinsk (193,519 people) and Kotlas (73,516 people), where more than 50% of all the regional population live. Comparing to the results of the census 2002 only the number of the population of the Nenets Okrug has grown (42,628 people), with the increase of 2.6%. In the Arkhangelsk Oblast urban population is prevailing, its share is 75.6%. Women are traditionally for the Oblast more numerous than men: 53.3% and 46.7% correspondingly. During 2010 the population of the Arkhangelsk Oblast reduced both due to the natural decline – by 2.5 thousand people, and due to migration processes – by 8 thousand people.

Arkhangelsk pulp and paper mill has multiplied its revenue

JSC Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill in 2010 multiplied its net profit 42.3 times as compared to 2009. Among the factors that influenced the growth there is increase in production and sales prices. The Mill has more than 65% of the Russian label paper market, and also more than 65% of the writing paper, school exercise-books, and fibreboard market of the Arkhangelsk Oblast. The main stakeholder of the Mill is the Austrian Pulp Mill Holding GmbH (97.42% of shares).

Statistics is an exact science

Recently the Russian statistic authorities have given interesting figures – salaries of state officials in the Arkhangelsk Oblast are 2.5 times more than the average salaries in the region. Thus an average monthly wage of state officials in the Arkhangelsk Oblast is 59 thousand rubles, whereas an average salary in the region is 23 thousand rubles. The regional Government informs that the average salary of state officials in the Arkhangelsk Oblast (without Nenets Okrug) in 2010 was reduced by 7.2%. Also the report made by the local Government says that the highest salary is received by the civil servants in the Nenets Okrug. Common statistical data for such a virtual entity uniting the Arkhangelsk Oblast and the Nenets Okrug have led to misunderstanding by some of the analytics who believe that the difference between the salaries of state officials and ordinary people in the region is the largest in the country. The number of civil servants representing executive power in the Arkhangelsk Oblast per 1000 people of population is only 0.9 people (excluding the Nenets Okrug).

Population of the Nenets Okrug has grown over the last 8 years

Nenets Okrug and Kaliningrad Oblast are the only regions in the NW Russia where the number of population has increased according to the census and reached 42,642 and 941,424 people correspondingly.