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Bellona nuclear digest. May 2024
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
News
Publish date: March 27, 2006
News
"The use of nuclear-powered submarines for guarding continental shelf borders in the Arctic is currently being studied at the Russian Navy Main Staff," the source said, adding that the greater part of the disputed Arctic shelf zone was below a thick icecap so systematic surveys could only be provided by nuclear subs.
The official explained that in order to delimit Russia’s state border in the Arctic along the continental shelf line, it was necessary to present detailed seabed maps of the disputed zone to the UN. "This is about Russia’s control over huge hydrocarbon reserves in these parts of the world oceans," he said.
Experts estimate that about 100 billion metric tons of oil-equivalent hydrocarbons are concentrated on Russia’s Arctic sea shelf. The sea shelf also contains major reserves of various types of solid-state minerals, including non-ferrous, rare-earth, and precious metals, reported RIA Novosti.
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
But it’s unlikely to impact emissions from shipping along the Northern Sea Route.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.
The following op-ed, written by Bellona’s Charles Digges, originally appeared in The Moscow Times. In recent months, the Russian nuclear in...