The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of June 1, 2020
Russia’s Forgotten Oil Spill
On June 3, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a national state of emergency after 20,000 tons of diesel leaked into the 60 km long Ambarnaya River in the Russian Arctic on May 29. The diesel originated from a storage fuel tank on an industrial site operated by Norilsk Nickel, the world’s largest producer of palladium and Russia’s leading nickel mining and smelting company. The diesel is now flowing towards Lake Pyasino, a lake which flows into the Pyasina River and into the Kara Sea in the Arctic Ocean. The reason of the leak is still yet to be confirmed, but experts suggest that melting permafrost may have caused damage to the fuel storage tank. A special team from Murmansk was early brought in to tackle the catastrophe, and Putin has now called in more resources for the cleanup effort and ordered criminal investigations. In terms of volume, the accident is believed to be the second largest in modern Russian history (BBC, The Guardian, The Sun).
Take 1: The diesel spillage most certainly is an ecological catastrophe that will threaten plants, fish and bird populations for many years to come. How big the negative impacts will be remains to be seen, but all largely depends on when the spillage is contained and the post cleanup efforts. It is not only the devastating effects from this spillage that is of concern, but there is also worry about the future if the permafrost collapse theory proves to be correct. If true, the warming climate can pose huge problems for oil and gas facilities built on permafrost ground, and that can lead to devastating consequences on other Arctic ecosystems too.
The Negatives of Using Heavy Fuel for Arctic Shipping
On June 3, Canadian media reported that 37 percent of ships in the Canadian Arctic run on heavy fuel oil. This finding was originally published in the journal Facets on May 14 by researchers at the University of Ottawa who had studied a total of 601 vessels that had travelled through Canadian Arctic waters between 2010 and 2018. They had contacted companies directly, and also used policy reports and websites of marine organizations and shipping companies to determine whether the ships used heavy fuel oil or not. Out of the 601 total vessels studied, 155 were confirmed and 65 were estimated to have used heavy fuel oil. Most of these 220 vessels were cargo ships, bulk carriers and tankers, and overall, they comprised 45 percent of the total distance travelled by all vessels (Facets, The Narwhal).
Take 2: The fact that 37 percent of all ships in the Canadian Arctic use heavy fuel is understandable because it is a low-cost fuel that is easily accessible, but it is also very concerning. Heavy fuel oil is considered to be the dirtiest type of fuel. It is thicker and less refined than other fuel types, and when burned, more black carbon is emitted than any other fuel used in shipping. The fine particulate matter is a potent driver of climate change, and there are huge consequences when it settles on white landscapes in the Arctic region. It leads to more heat being absorbed and less sunlight being reflected. In addition, in case of a spill, this type of fuel is particularly difficult to clean up because of its viscosity. It is good to know that the Arctic countries and the International Maritime Organization have agreed on a draft regulation which would phase out the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic starting 2024, but that is still several years away. With the rapid growth of shipping in the region heavy fuel oil use will only continue to grow till then. More action is needed now, or we will be sure to see devastating consequences come our way.
A New Record for Norway
On May 30 it was reported that Norway’s only coal power plant, located in the world’s northernmost city of Longyearbyen in the Svalbard archipelago, had released a record amount of 77,892 tonnes CO2 in 2019. The amount is 44 percent higher than 2012 emissions and is the result of a growing demand for district heating due to development and population growth (NRK).
Take 3: Longyearbyen has already been known for being the city in Norway that pollutes the most per capita. In 2017, the plant produced annual emissions of 40 tonnes of CO2 per capita, four times more than people at the mainland. The new record is not something to be proud about. It only makes the situation worse in the area, and it is clear that there is an urgent need to find alternative solutions that are sustainable yet provide reliable energy supply for the future. The positive is that the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in Norway is already investigating the matter. A few alternatives that already have been floated around include wind power, hydrogen fueled power plants, and a power cable that will connect mainland Norway and Svalbard.
Russian Naval Exercises Set to Occur In the North
On June 1, the Russian Northern fleet announced that it would conduct a large-scale exercise in the Barents- and Norwegian Seas later this month. The exercise will involve 30 surface ships, support vessels and submarines, in addition to more than 20 aircraft. Exact exercise dates remain unknown (Redstar, The Barents Observer).
Take 4: The exercise will mark the third year in a row that the Russian Northern Fleet exercises with more than 30 warships in northern waters. This demonstrates what we already know – that the Arctic is a main priority for Russia. The country has been working hard to build up and upgrade its military infrastructure, strengthen its military capabilities, and reassert its military presence in the region. The exercises are part of Russia’s many efforts to establish its military power in the north. The fact that the country has acknowledged that the international situation is tense but that it still is going to continue with exercises shows Russia flexing its muscles. It is showing that regardless of COVID-19, its Armed Forces are ready.
U.S. and Norway Conduct Joint Flight Over Arctic
On June 3, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota carried out a long-range training mission throughout Europe and over the Arctic Ocean and Laptev Sea. The exercise involved four B-52H Stratofortress bombers training with Norwegian F-35s and F-16s, and the goal was for the US to demonstrate its commitment to its partners and allies, and its capability to deter, assure, and defend together in an increasingly complex environment (Defense News, The Barents Observer).
Take 5: Military exercises in the Arctic seem to be the new “normal.” This exercise tests the U.S. ability to deploy a nuclear capable asset from the U.S. over the Arctic. Besides that, the fact that both Russia and the U.S. conduct exercises around the same time, show readiness, the flexing of muscles, and building of partner relationships.