High North News - News, analysis and debate about politics and business in the North

Alaska's governor Mike Dunleavy (R)

No bids in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil lease sale

The oil and gas lease sale for Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge draws no bids from oil companies. “There are some places too special to put at risk," says Acting Interior Deputy. Meanwhile, the U.S. state of Alaska has filed a complaint over restrictions in the sale set by the federal government.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

The Only Safe Bet Is That Trump Will Destroy Any Possibility of an Independent Greenland

Comment: It is correct that Denmark has practiced a brutal policy toward the indigenous people of Greenland. And that the island is rich in resources. But that is not why Donald Trump threatens to take over Greenland with force—quite the contrary.

Finnish Soldiers Train NATO Allies in Winter Survival Skills

In Lapland, northern Finland, where temperatures regularly drop below -20 degrees Celsius, instructors from the Finnish Defence Forces’ Jaeger Brigade is running a winter warfare course for military personnel from USA, Canada, France and Great Britain.

Notices

BUSINESS / 09.01.2025

No bids submitted for oil and gas lease sale in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said Wednesday that no bids were…

ARCTIC LIVING / 09.01.2025

Updated estimate shows Alaska has more people than previously thought

A new state population estimate shows Alaska has 741,147 residents, an…

ARCTIC LIVING / 09.01.2025

Finland hits winter's coldest temperature so far

The lowest temperature of this winter season was recorded at a weather…

Controversial Danish Arctic Ambassador Resigns

Tobias Elling Rehfeldt resigns as Arctic Ambassador for the Kingdom of…

Northvolt

Battery Company Northvolt Continues Its Operations

After an extraordinary general meeting, the shareholders of Northvolt decided to allow the company to continue its operations for up to eight months.

Fiskeskøyter ved Røst utenfor Lofoten

Increased Share of Women and Young Fishers in Norway

Despite the number of registered fishers decreasing, there is an increased interest in the fishing profession among women in Norway, writes the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries.

Forretningsmannen Donald Trump jr. er nå på et Grønlandsbesøk som er varslet og fulgt tett av faren Donald J. Trump, som snart gjør gjeninntreden som USAs president. (Foto: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Trump Jr. Visited Greenland After Dad’s New Proposals About Buying the Country

The US president-elect, Donald J. Trump, believes American "ownership and control over Greenland to be a necessity" and does not rule out the use of military force. His son visited the Arctic island yesterday. Greenlandic leaders emphasize that the country seeks to be an independent state but is open to more cooperation with the US.

High North News investigates: The Russian Gas Flow

Höegh Esperanza floating LNG import ship at Germany’s Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal.

EU Imports More Russian LNG in 2024 Than Ever Before, Mostly From Arctic

While the EU’s imports of liquefied natural gas from around the world decreased by 20…

Also see

Russian Sovcomflot to Operate Sanctioned Zvezda Arc7 LNG Carrier for Arctic LNG 2

Germany Rejects Vessel Carrying Russian Arctic LNG, But Continues Indirect Imports Via EU Neighbors

European Commission’s Von Der Leyen Suggests EU Could Replace Russian LNG with U.S. Supply

Trump Presidency Could be Good News for Russia’s Arctic LNG Projects, Though Exact Policy Shift Hard to Predict

putin at belokamenka

Exclusive: Senior Novatek Official Traveled to Washington DC For Discussions on Arctic LNG Sanctions

Could the upcoming Trump U.S. administration offer an opportunity to reverse or…

Russian Arctic LNG Carrier Out of Commission Following Maintenance Struggles, Underscores Key Role of EU Yards

Russia’s fleet of ice-capable LNG carriers keeps the gas flowing to Europe. But now…

Jian Yang Cheng Xiang heavy lift carrier

Cargo Shipment from Belgium to Russia Highlights Continued Flow of LNG Technology from EU

A cargo delivery from Antwerp to Yamal LNG plant raises questions about the…

Shell’s platform

Biden Bans New Offshore Drilling in Arctic Bering Sea Ahead of Incoming Trump Administration

Following new measures by President Biden much of the U.S. waters around the Bering Strait are now off limits to oil and gas exploration. The ban will likely prove difficult to reverse though upcoming President Trump promised to “unban” it on day one.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

Making Money in the North Was Possible After All

Comment: It is said to be impossible to both earn money and build a solid business sector in the High North. This gloomy message is shared by both tax refugees in Switzerland and retired politicians. However, statistics in the Economist tell a different story.

Nord University Secures Major Funding for International Arctic Education

A new 3-million NOK international education initiative will launch in January 2025, connecting three universities across Norway, China, and India. That is reported by the High North Center for Business and Governance in a press release.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Oil Lease Sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to be Held This Week

A congressionally mandated oil lease sale for Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be held on January 10th. The Biden administration has moved to limit the lease sale to 400,000 acres, the smallest acreage required by law.

I Vest-Finnmark møtte Norges statsminister og Finlands president blant andre sjefene for de to landenes hærstyrker, henholdsvis generalmajor Lars Lervik (t.v) og generalløytnant Pasi Välimäki. Nordisk hærsamarbeid ble kanskje særlig synlig under Cold Response i mars 2022, en utgave av den norskledede øvingsserien som nå har blitt videreutviklet til Nordic Response. Nevnte år deltok Sverige og Finland med styrker i én felles brigade under kommandoen til den norske hæren. (Foto: Tor-Magnus Øverås/Forsvaret)

Closing the Gap Between Europe and North America: The Defense Year 2024

In a review of the Arctic 2024, researchers shed light on the most substantial developments in the Arctic in the year that passed. The past 12 months have reconfirmed the importance of the Arctic as a site of deep military significance, says researcher Thomas Hughes, highlighting how Europe and North America have attempted to close the North Atlantic gap in the changed geopolitical situation.

Höegh Esperanza floating LNG import ship at Germany’s Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal.

EU Imports More Russian LNG in 2024 Than Ever Before, Mostly From Arctic

While the EU’s imports of liquefied natural gas from around the world decreased by 20 percent, deliveries from Russia set a new record in 2024. An increasing amount of Russian LNG is now sold on the spot market.

PSC USCG new icebreaker

U.S. Coast Guard Starts Construction of First New Heavy Icebreaker in 50 Years

A decade in the making the U.S. Coast Guard is set to finally begin work on its first heavy icebreaker in 50 years. Construction is expected to take a minimum of five years, though additional delays could push delivery in the 2030s.

2024 Top 10

The Flow of Russian Gas On Top for 2024

Dear reader. You have spoken, and the message is clear: Our Russian gas and shipping coverage is of most interest, interspersed with security policy and a Swedish disaster film. Here is the top 10 list for 2024.

Ursa Major

Sinking of Russian Ship in the Mediterranean Could Delay Leader-class Nuclear Icebreaker ‘Rossiya’

The loss of two reactor hatch covers for the Rossiya nuclear icebreaker in a cargo vessel sinking in the Mediterranean spells unwelcome news for Russia. The cargo ship Ursa Major was traveling from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok when it experienced an engine room explosion and subsequently sank.

Charting a Greener Course: The Northeast Passage and Shipping’s Future

Op-ed: Global shipping faces unprecedented challenges as reliance on established trade routes like the Suez Canal exposes vulnerabilities in current trade networks. The need for exploring alternative routes is urgent, writes researchers from Nord University in this op-ed on the North East Passage.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

I Was Going to Write About Hope, but the Danes Threw a Spanner in My Keyboard

Comment: I was going to write something peaceful heading into a new Arctic year. Some hopeful observations despite the brutality that surrounds us. But then the Danish Security and Intelligence Service fired some early New Year fireworks into my keyboard.

Norges største satellittprogram, Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission, er nå i operativ drift hos Forsvaret. Her markeres begivenheten ved Eggemoen satellittstasjon i Sør-Norge av Cyberforsvarets sjef, brigader Halvor Johansen, forsvarsminister Bjørn Arild Gram og Space Norways nestleder Dag Stølan. (Foto: Anette Ask/Forsvaret)

The Norwegian Armed Forces With Full Broadband Coverage in the Arctic

Norway’s Arctic broadband satellites are now operational and put into use by the Norwegian Armed Forces. "This enables us to exercise effective command and control in all types of operations up to the North Pole," says the Chief of the Norwegian Cyber Defense.

LKABs malmtog i Narvik

Status Report on the Iron Ore Line Derailment: Could Have Been Caused by Defective Wheel

According to a preliminary status report from the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority, a damaged wheel could have contributed to the train derailment on the Iron Ore Line a year ago. The fully loaded train was heading from the northern Swedish city of Kiruna to Narvik when several cars derailed near the Norwegian border.