Share

Russia resubmits claim for energy-rich Arctic shelf

“Ample scientific data collected in years of Arctic research are used to back the Russian claim”, Russia foreign ministry said in a statement.

Advertisement

The Arctic sea shelf it is claiming extends more than 250 nautical miles from the shore.

Denmark, Canada, the United States, and Norway have also expressed interest in the region with high oil and natural gas potential.

Russian Federation says extensive research spanning several years proves its continental shelf extends far beyond the 200-nautical-mile radius.

The ministry is now saying that it has resubmitted its bid with new arguments.

Russia’s foreign ministry said the fresh bid is backed by scientific data.

Since 2001, Russian Federation has been claiming a hydrocarbon-rich shelf land, including the Lomonosov and Mendeleev ridges, but its first application was rejected in 2002 due to a lack of geological evidence.

Russian polar explorers in 2007 made a symbolic declare to the huge territory and maritime rights once they dropped a titanium-encased Russian flag on the seabed underneath the North Pole from a submarine.

While countries squabble over who owns what in the Arctic, it’s slowly melting away.

The claims are aimed at a section of the Arctic Ocean known as the doughnut hole, a Texas-size area of global waters encircled by the existing economic-zone boundaries of shoreline countries.

Environmental groups are warning against a rush to develop the Arctic shipping route and extract the energy resources under the sea bed.

“Unless we act together, this region could be dotted with oil wells and fishing fleets within our lifetimes”, he added.

The new move comes a week after the Kremlin said it was strengthening its naval forces in the Arctic as part of a new military doctrine.

Some 38,000 servicemen, more than 50 surface ships and submarines and 110 aircraft were involved in the drills.

Advertisement

As global warming causes the Arctic ice cap to melt, more of the previously unchartered territory has become accessible.

Russia bids for vast Arctic territories at UN