The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 9 January, 2023
Russia Funds Construction of Nuclear Waste Service Ship
As reported by The Barents Observer on January 11, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed a decree providing funds to construct a transport and maintenance ship for nuclear fuel and waste. The new service ship will help handle, store, and replace uranium fuel from the reactors of Russia’s fleet of nuclear-powered civilian vessels. The decree authorizes 12.4 billion rubles to build the nuclear waste service ship, with the vessel intended to be ready by 2029. (The Barents Observer)
Take 1: The construction of a nuclear waste service ship highlights Russia’s growing number of nuclear-powered icebreakers. Russia is the only country in the world operating a fleet of civilian nuclear-powered vessels, with seven nuclear icebreakers currently in service in the Arctic. Yet, radioactive contamination and nuclear waste are serious issues for the Arctic region, particularly for Russia. Like many other countries during the 1960s to 80s, the Soviet Union experienced difficulties handling and disposing of nuclear material. As a result, many radioactive elements were discarded into the ocean, including six major objects that account for more than 90% of all radioactivity in the region. These objects include two sunken submarines and three submarine reactors, but also the spent uranium fuel from a nuclear-powered icebreaker. Pollution levels posed by radioactivity remain low in the Arctic, but deteriorating site conditions could cause radiation to leak, harming public health and the Arctic’s vulnerable ecosystems. Moreover, a growing nuclear fleet increases the risk of a nuclear accident, leading to radioactive contamination. Given the difficulty of recovering nuclear material, an accident involving a nuclear-powered icebreaker would further Russia’s existing problems with radioactivity in the Arctic with potentially disastrous consequences. As Russia continues to operate and construct new nuclear-powered icebreakers and service ships, it should also consider the dangers and strengthen measures to ensure the safe transportation and handling of nuclear fuel and waste. (Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, The Barents Observer)
Far North Fiber Express: An Undersea Cable for the Arctic?
As reported by Nunatsiaq News on January 6, the Nunavut Impact Review Board approved a preliminary survey to determine the best route for a fiber optic cable in the Arctic on December 22. This initial work, which would assess the quality of the ocean soil, could lead to the construction of a 14,000-kilometer cable between Japan and Norway or Finland. The project is run by Far North Digital LLC, and the company intends to begin construction in 2024. The proposal still needs approval from Canada’s Northern Affairs Minister. (Nunatsiaq News)
Take 2: Undersea fiber optic cables are an essential part of modern infrastructure. Transmitting more than 95% of international data and providing vital internet connections, these cables facilitate financial transactions, global communication, scientific cooperation, and other activities. Subsea cables are also critical to security since governments rely on them for diplomatic and military communications. However, undersea cables are also vulnerable to natural disasters and, of greater concern, intentional harm by countries like Russia. In 2022, a fiber optic cable in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard was severed in an act of suspected sabotage. While the cause of the disruption remains unclear, it highlights the vulnerability of these cables and the importance of alternative lines of communication. Therefore, an Arctic fiber optic cable would be important as it would be the first to connect Asia to Europe without passing through Egypt, a notorious chokepoint. An undersea cable in the High North would also be important to provide internet access to Arctic communities. Given their remote locations and harsh climate conditions, developing connectivity infrastructure in the region has been difficult. Although satellites and other projects are working to provide broadband connectivity, a fiber optic cable would provide a higher capacity and more reliable connection. As Far North Digital continues to develop the undersea cable, it is essential that they not only involve local communities but listen to their needs and value their contributions as well. (Center for Strategic and International Studies, Euractiv, The Arctic Institute, The Barents Observer)
Canada Selects the F-35 to Replace Its Fleet
As reported by Eye on the Arctic on January 10, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand announced that Canada will procure 88 F-35 fighter jets for $19 billion CAD. The Royal Canadian Air Force will receive the fighters from the manufacturer Lockheed Martin in stages, with the first four F-35s to be delivered in 2026. The Defense Minister stated that the acquisition will reinforce Canada’s security, including in the High North. The fighter jets will replace Canada’s aging CF-18 fighter jet fleet, which the government aims to phase out by 2032. (Eye on the Arctic)
Take 3: As the Royal Canadian Air Force’s largest investment in the last three decades, the purchase of the F-35 is a significant milestone for Canada. With tensions increasing in the High North, Canada joins other Arctic states like Finland and Norway, who have also recently selected the F-35 to replace their fleets. The procurement is especially important as Canada’s fleet of CF-18s, which was introduced in the 1980s, is now well beyond its expected service life. The announcement follows other major upgrades, such as Canada’s plans to modernize NORAD. With Russia increasing its militarization of the Arctic and testing new technologies, such as hypersonic missiles, upgrading Canada’s air defense systems and strengthening its air power are essential for improving its ability to secure and operate in the Arctic. It could also help fill critical Arctic surveillance gaps that were identified by Canada’s Auditor General last year. Moreover, with many other Arctic states and NATO allies also using the F-35, the acquisition will improve interoperability and enhance joint military cooperation in the High North. As the Arctic sea ice melts and the region becomes more navigable, tensions and competition will likely intensify. Canada’s decision to purchase 88 F-35s signals that it recognizes the changing Arctic security environment and is committed to operating in the region, one of the largest expanses of airspace in the world. (CBC News, CNN, Global News)
Ozone Layer Restoration in the Arctic
As reported by the New York Times on January 9, scientists have stated in an assessment for the United Nations that the ozone layer is on track to recover within a few decades. The report notes that as long as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other chemicals remain banned, ozone levels between the polar regions should be restored by 2040. However, the ozone layer will not recover until 2045 over the Arctic and about 2066 near the South Pole. (New York Times)
Take 4: Since the loss of ozone first sparked alarm in the 1980s, international efforts to eliminate ozone-depleting chemicals, such as the Montreal Protocol, have steadily improved the ozone layer over time. Established in 1987, the protocol was an international agreement that banned the use of over 100 ozone-depleting compounds, including chlorofluorocarbons. Although an ozone hole is known to regularly form above Antarctica, holes in the ozone layer do also sometimes occur in the Arctic. The unique atmospheric conditions of the region mean that when this does happen, it is of particular concern. While lower ozone levels reduce protection from the sun’s UV rays, negatively impacting people, plants, and marine ecosystems, the Arctic’s high latitude, cold temperatures, and fragile food webs means that the region is particularly sensitive to increases in radiation exposure. As recently as 2020, one of the largest ozone holes on record formed in the region at the North Pole. This was attributed at the time to an unusually cold and persistent polar vortex, which is a phenomenon more commonly found in the Antarctic. The polar vortex’s cold temperatures lead to the formation of polar stratospheric clouds that react with ozone-depleting chemicals to thin the ozone layer. As the region warms, polar vortexes in the Arctic could continue to intensify; however, more research is needed to determine the impact of climate change on Arctic ozone depletion. Nevertheless, the announcement that the ozone layer is on track to recovery illustrates what the world can accomplish through a unified global response. The success of the Montreal Protocol should encourage greater environmental cooperation and serve as a model to combat other urgent climate issues in the Arctic, such as black carbon and pollution. (Environmental Protection Agency, The Guardian, The Washington Post, UK Air Information Resource)
EU Sanctions and the Russia-China Partnership in the Arctic
As reported by High North News on January 9, French company Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT) announced that it has terminated its work with Russia’s Zvezda shipyard on 15 specialized liquified natural gas (LNG) tankers due to EU sanctions. The company is the only supplier of marine membrane containment systems, a key technology used aboard LNG carriers for the storage and transport of the liquified gas . The specialized ships were intended to transport natural gas from Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project. However, GTT also stated that international safety standards require the firm to complete work on the first few vessels. (High North News)
Take 5: Announcements like Gaztransport and Technigaz’s decision to terminate work in Russia due to sanctions, have become regular occurrences since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Like other western technology partners, the French naval engineering company was a significant contributor to a project that would have been important for Arctic development. The economic development of the Arctic region is a critical state priority for Russia, with the government investing heavily in infrastructure, equipment, and industries along the Northern Sea Route. The specialized LNG carriers that GTT was helping construct were intended to support Russia’s growing number of liquified natural gas plants in the Arctic and provide additional revenue for Russia. As seen in other projects, Russia will likely seek to replace the European company with other firms, and China has already expressed interest in constructing the highly specialized vessels. Although Chinese shipyards previously failed to secure the contracts to construct the LNG carriers, the withdrawal of GTT may lead to greater participation from Chinese shipyards. These would only intensify the greater industrial cooperation between Russia and China that has emerged in recent years. As companies like GTT terminate their operations in Russia, investments and contributions to Russian Arctic projects could also enable China to expand its role in the Arctic. While sanctions are a necessary response to Russia’s military aggression, it is also important to monitor the Russia-China energy partnership as it could facilitate greater cooperation between the two countries in other areas, including in defense. (AP News, High North News, The Arctic Institute)