Dear colleagues,

The Prirazlomnoye project, Russia's first offshore oil project in the Arctic, is heavily dependent on foreign technology.

Production proceeds as planned, but parts of equipment and services will be replaced by Russian suppliers, a top leader of operator company Gazprom Neft says about Russia’s first offshore oil project.

September, 6 – Maxim Sokolov, Minister of Transport of Russian Federation, and Marina Kovtun, Head of Murmansk region, gave a signal to start realization of the first stage of the project “Complex development of Murmansk transport hub”. The beginning of constructing works concerning federal objects was announced officially: railway station Vykhodnoy – bridge crossing river Tuloma – railway station Murmashi-2 – Lavna. Branch railway line is 46 km.

Regional authorities in Murmansk six months ago started preparing a proposition for a presidential decree on changing the status of Roslyakovo from closed military town to industrial zone. Until now, Roslyakovo has been part of Severomorsk, which hosts the headquarters of the Northern Fleet, and was therefore closed to everybody that did not have an entry permit.

August, 27 – Grigory Stratiy, Vice Governor of Murmansk region, held the meeting with the representatives of Rogaland county in the office of NPO “Association “Murmanshelf”. Norwegian guests were Daniel Fjærtoft and Lars Lunden («Sigra Group» company). Russian participants of the meeting were Olga Buch (NPO «Association «Murmanshelf»); Oleg Kostenko (Committee for Development of Industry and Enterpreneurship of Murmansk region); Yury Smirnov, Oleg Prasov (Administrative Office of the Murmansk Regional Government).

Gazprom Neft is ready to ship out 80,000 tons of Novoportovskoye oil through the Ob Bay and towards western markets.

Rosneft and ExxonMobil joint venture company Karmorneftegaz began drilling at Universitetskaya-1, the Russian Federation's northernmost well using the West Alpha rig.

Ministry for Regional Development of the Russian Federation has accepted the initiative of the Government of Murmansk region to hold III Murmansk International Business Week in November, 17-21. According to their opinion, business week will promote improvement of social and economic development of the region; help to create favorable conditions for business activity on the territory of Murmansk region; give an opportunity for attracting the investors by showing all regional potential.

"Rosneft" company plans to supply shelf projects by organizing resting coastal base at the premises of 82th shipyard, building factories to produce underwater fittings, concrete bricks, helicopter airdrome (for several dozens of units), logistics base, staging area and storage. The Government of the Murmansk region together with "Rosneft" company are going to create Center of Arctic Competence on the base of Murmansk State Technical University.

The privileged registration to 7th international conference "Arctic Development: Step by Step" continues.

The conference will take place in Murmansk on the 18th – 19th of November, 2014 supported by the Government of the Murmansk Region in the framework of the III Murmansk International Business Week.

Rosneft has started field works at five license blocks of the Barents and Pechora Seas: West Prinovozemelsky, located in the North-Eastern part of the Barents sea near the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, Perseevsky, located in the North-Western part of the Barents sea, and at the South Russky, South Prinovozemelsky and West Matveevsky license blocks, located in the Pechora Sea.

Agenda: results for reporting period (2013-2014) such as approval of report on the audit of financial and economic activity, election of new Members of the Board. Elected chairman of the Board is Grigory Stratiy, Vice Governor of the Murmansk region.  

Alexey Tyukavin, First Vice-Governor of the Murmansk region, chaired a public discussion of projects of Investment Strategies 2020 and 2025.

As it is announced by Alexey Tyukavin, First Vice-Governor of Murmansk region, III Murmansk International Business Week is going to take place from 17 till 21, November 2014. This report was discussed at the first meeting of working group formed for preparing and holding the week.

NPO "Association "Murmanshelf" invites you to participate in the 7th International Conference "Arctic Development: Step by Step". The Conference will take place in Murmansk on the 18th – 19th of November, 2014 supported by the Government of the Murmansk Region in the framework of the III Murmansk International Business Week. 

World Environmental Day is annually celebrated almost in every European country. It was established by United Nations General Assembly on 15th of December, 1972. The aim was to "pay public attention to necessity of environmental preservation and improvement of nature".

Interdepartmental Environmental Group met yet again to discuss implementation of Murmansk Regional Investment Standard of Activities to be Held by the Executive Authorities.

May, 29 – Murmansk Industrial College opened linguistic center “Severny mir” (“Northern world”), Olga Buch, Director General of “Association “Murmanshelf”, took part in that event. The projected has been realized supported by Statoil ASA Company.

Grigory Stratiy, Vice Governor of the Murmansk region, made the opening speech for Transportation Safety Board and underlined that primarily future of Murmansk region was closely connected with realization of infrastructure projects in transport development. Safety control of passenger and cargo transportation is the most important condition of that development.

On 22-23 of May, 2014, representatives of NPO "Association "Murmanshelf" attended the workshops "International resources of financing Russian-Swedish projects" and  "How it is possible to start your business in Sweden" organized by Russian-Swedish Council for support of small and medium-sized businesses.