Russian Cabinet Approves $4Mln Package for Arctic Research

Moscow allocated 205 million rubles for the North Pole drifting station which is a key factor of Russia’s presence in the Arctic region.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree allocating over 205 million rubles ($4 million) to invest into North Pole drifting station's operation in the Arctic, the government press service said on Monday.

“We are allocating a subsidy from the federal budget amounting to 205.2 million rubles to resume national expeditionary research in the Arctic. It will encourage stabilization and expansion of Russia’s activities in the world ocean, also due to intensifying use of natural resources in the Arctic and need to protect its environment,” the statement posted on the government’s website reads.

The document also stated that the North Pole drifting station is a key factor of Russia’s presence in the Arctic region, which secures Russia’s priority in comprehensive exploration activities.

On April 19, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin reached the North Pole to launch a drifting ice station as part Russia’s efforts to step up its presence in the Arctic.

The Arctic shelf is believed to have enormous deposits of oil and natural gas. Russia, alongside another four Arctic nations – the United States, Canada, Norway and Denmark — has been exploring the region, claiming the deposits within its offshore border areas.

North Pole. Our Station-2015. Anniversary of the "Battle on the Ice" on Lake Chudskoe. But it's all quiet&as planned) pic.twitter.com/fm7m2YaUfY

— Dmitry Rogozin (@DRogozin) 19 апреля 2015

The Arctic is Russian Mecca pic.twitter.com/O9G6qO7Y6G

— Dmitry Rogozin (@DRogozin) 20 апреля 2015