Joint Norwegian-Russian surveys
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), the University of Oslo and the Russian Geological Institute (GIN) have begun collaborative mapping of undiscovered natural resources in the Barents Sea and around the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
The main task, say the parties, is charting the area and not exploration for oil and gas. Meanwhile, the NPD estimates that two thirds of Norway’s undiscovered resources are to be found in its northern regions.
The Russian research vessel Akademik Nikolai Strakhov is scheduled to undertake most of the geological surveys as well as general research and mapping operations.
