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Norwegian and Russian Arctic Resources: Prospects for Social and Economic Development (ARD)

Executive Summary
Vast quantities of proven and estimated reserves of oil and gas and other natural resources of the northern and Arctic parts of Norway and Russia, from northern Norway and the Kola Peninsula in the west to the Bering Strait in the east, are increasingly becoming more important to the economic and social welfare of both countries.

But to state and private investors in Norway, Russia, and other countries information, data, and reliable analyses on which to base investment decisions are hard to come by, scattered as they are among numerous sources, locations and institutions. Any investor, state or private, would face huge expenditures just to obtain and analyse basic information.

To meet the lack and scarcity of data, information, and analyses and to facilitate significantly the process of information gathering and investment decision-making, the research company

Ocean Futures (OF) of Oslo,

and three of Russia's leading research institutions,

the Council for the Study of Productive Forces (SOPS) of Moscow,
the Central Marine Research and Design Institute (CNIIMF) and
the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), both of St Petersburg,

have agreed to carry out the joint project named ARD for short.

Leading persons in these institutions (the Principal Partners) can rely on personal and extensive experience of working together for six years during the 1990's in the highly successful International Northern Sea Route Project (INSROP). The project will also draw on the expertise of other parties in Norway, Russia, and elsewhere.

The aim of the project is

to produce a source of data, information, and analyses of the natural resources that is unique and will demonstrate better than anything else the economic and commercial possibilities in northern and Arctic parts of Russia and Norway and will be judged by state and private companies and organizations everywhere as the obvious first source of consultation for investment information and opportunities.

The content of ARD will in Section 1 consist of the most comprehensive description of the natural (mineral and biological) resources and activities based on them so far undertaken. Section 2 will give an exhaustive account of infrastructure, especially transportation, communication, and logistical factors. In Section 3 the attention will be on environmental factors, challenges, and conditions adverse or conducible to the sustainable exploitation of the natural resources. Section 4 will concentrate on economic, social, legal, and institutional factors that all too often are neglected or ignored but inevitably affect economic and commercial activities. The final Section 5 will build on the results of the previous sections to make medium to long term forecasts and scenarios of sustainable development within the areas concerned.

Data and information so far unavailable outside Russia will be extensively used and will render the project results unique. The implementation of the project will take place in two phases. The first will cover northern Norway and northwest Russia, including the Barents, White, Pechora and Kara Seas and last for two years. The second phase, covering the Russian Arctic from the Urals to the Bering Strait, will follow immediately and last for another two years.

Potential users include state and private institutions and companies in Russia, Norway and elsewhere whose main activities are the exploitation of natural resources or derive the bulk or significant parts of their business from the exploitation of natural resources.

The results of the project will be presented in a user-friendly manner. A database will be developed, and results will be available as hardcopy and in a CD version. Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques will be used and maps will be produced based on GIS data.

For further information, please contact:
Arnfinn Jørgensen-Dahl, Programme Director
Senior Research Fellow, Ph.D.
arnfinn.j-dahl@ocean-futures.com
Ph.: +47-22-088-752

This information is also available in a printer-friendly format (PDF).

Updated: 20 February 2006

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