Permission for Russia Arctic Shelf Expansion by UN Possible, But Not Soon

The adoption of the Russian bid to the United Nations to expand its Arctic continental shelf border is possible but not in the near future, a scientific coordinator of preparatory work for the Russian bid, Leopold Lobkovsky, said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, Russia submitted a revised application to the United Nations, seeking the expansion of its Arctic shelf border through the inclusion of the Lomonosov Ridge and other sections of the Arctic Ocean seafloor that have continental shelf properties.

Russia has been seeking the recognition of an expanded resource-rich outer limit of the continental shelf (OLCS) since 2001, but has been turned down due to lack of geological evidence that the territory is a natural continuation of Russia's shelf.

"The application has a chance to be adopted, but not soon," Lobkovsky, a deputy director of the Marine Geology Division at the Russian Academy of Sciences oceanology institute, told RIA Novosti.

He added that there would be obstacles for Russia's claim to be adopted by the United Nations.

"The Arctic is a big and tasty morsel. And the attitude toward Russia today is not very good. The international situation does not contribute to a rapid decision in our favor. There are no duration restrictions in this procedure. It may last for a few more years," the scientist added.

According to Lobkovsky, despite tension in Russia's relations with the West, the consideration of the UN bid is an open scientific debate.

The Arctic shelf is believed to hold enormous untapped oil and natural gas resources, estimated by Moscow to contain up to 5.5 billion tons worth nearly $30 trillion.