Last month, Russian expedition conducted a study on the bottom of the North Arctic Ocean near the North Pole. The outcome of the expedition was locating the Russian flag, made of titanium at a depth of 4 km. After this unusual expedition, Russia intended to achieve several goals simultaneously.
First, to show the world that Russia has been able to rebuild its strength after the collapse of the Soviet Union and its economy is now able to conduct such a costly study.
A second important reason is the desire of Russia to prove ownership of the sector to its Arctic territories. According to the Russian view, in the northern archipelago Lomonosov is a natural continuation of the Russian mainland. In 2001, Russia had applied to the UN for the recognition of the sector North Arctic Ocean as Russian territory. But UN insufficient evidence rejected this claim. As a result of that Russian cruise on the ocean bottom.
If that claim to possess the Russian archipelago Lomonosov, Russia will get the huge deposits of oil and gas in this part of the land and up to 25% unexplored reserves.
However, the results of the expedition were not what awaited Russian side. Russians couldn’t find evidence that the archipelago Lomonosov is a continuation of Russian territory, and therefore ownership of the northern sector is still open.
In addition, Russia drew attention to the northern territories, other countries bordering the region. Countries such as the United States, Canada, Norway and Denmark also have their claim to North Pole sector. And as a result, Canada immediately soon after the Russian expedition announced plans to deploy two military facilities on the northern territories. Thus, Canada intends to bring its sovereign right to the northern point of the planet. Concurrently with these events, Denmark announced that it is also intended to send his expedition to the North Pole to find evidence that the archipelago Lomonosov is a continuation of the island of Greenland, which is under the jurisdiction of that country.
What has given Russia an expedition to the North Pole? Firstly, it can be assumed that Russian expedition could succeed, and Russia would be able to prove their right to the North Pole. At the same time, Russia would be in a position to process huge hydrocarbons. However, even in this case Russia could not explore it. In fact, that the exploitation and extraction of energy at the North Pole requires large financial resources and special equipment, which Russia does not currently possesses.
Indeed, one of the main reasons for the delay of full operation of such large fields in the territory of Russia as Shtokman and Sakhalin-2 is the lack of financial resources from Gazprom, a monopoly in the gas industry.
One of the reasons that could haunt Russia is a desire of the "facts" in the Northern outskirts, with the aim of further research in the future, when Russia have such opportunities. The reason why Russia chosen this time to study at the North Pole may be that at this particular time is considered the future status of Kosovo, which the United States and the EU want to see an independent state and which Russia strongly opposed.
In this case, Russia is an excuse to bid and the replacement of recognition of the sovereignty of Russia over the Northern Territories, Russia could cede on the issue of Kosovo's status.
While this assumption and does not go further than anticipated, it is difficult to believe that Russia could commit such a "blunder", after the expedition, which caused such a reaction, even from countries such as China and Australia, have nothing to do with the North Pole.
If suggest that shortcoming still occurred, in this case, one that the energy sector was not a monopolistic structure, but is a system with complex decision-making mechanism. And in this case the decision on energy issues are not always totally rational.
Otherwise, it’s difficult to explain the chase Gazprom to acquire distribution networks in Europe, with the feeling an acute shortage of finance for the development of new deposits, of which a sorely needed in the very near future. Or increase natural gas exports to Europe, with the acute shortage of this raw material in many areas of Russia. The list could go on, delaying the development of the necessary infrastructure for the production of liquefied gas, a strategic product, which Russia will be able to enter new markets at home and around the world.
We can only believe that Russia has the answers to these questions, or gas customers in Europe, are increasingly using the product, may soon feel the consequences of decisions of people in charge of the energy sector in Russia.
SOURCE: http://www.turkishweekly.net