Nature-Like Technologies to Meet the Needs of the Arctic
KEY CONCLUSIONS
The development of the Arctic is the most essential task of the country's development
“It is imperative for us to explore and utilise the Arctic. If we don't explore it, then somebody else will,” Andrey Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation.
The unique environment of the Arctic calls for special care and respect
“[The Arctic — Ed.] recovery is difficult and takes time. When contemplating the Arctic development, we must be clear on the kinds of technologies we are to bring there. Nature-like technologies preserve the natural resource turnover,” Mikhail Kovalchuk, President, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’.
“The Arctic is a structure that determines the climate and the future of the Earth. Shattering it is easy, regaining it would be challenging if not impossible,” Andrey Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation.
Russia has state-of-the-art technology for the Arctic development
The Arctic is a territory of total innovation,” Dmitry Kobylkin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.
“We are the only country in the world that has nuclear-powered icebreakers <...>. We have unique nuclear technologies,” Mikhail Kovalchuk, President, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’.
“In the next 10 years, we are to complete the transition to a closed fuel cycle,” Vyacheslav Ruksha, Deputy Director General – Director for the Northern Sea Route Directorate, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM.
PROBLEMS
Arctic environment calls for a unique approach to business and infrastructure
“Energy is the key for exploration. But energy [in the Arctic – Ed.] is very specific. There is no consumer for a major power generation. It should be distributed in low power capacities,” Mikhail Kovalchuk, President, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’.
An integrated approach to security issues, including the improvement of existing measures is a priority,” Georgiy Fokin, Chief Executive Officer, Gazprom Transgaz St. Petersburg.
“Inevitably, the climate is changing, the coastline is drifting, only state-of-the-art technologies can make the Arctic exploration effective,” Alexey Rakhmanov, President, United Shipbuilding Corporation.
Adverse effects of sanctions
“Exploration of hydrocarbons and equipment for the shelf development: we must attain independence here by 2021 considering sanctions pressure on our energy companies,” Oleg Ryazantsev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
SOLUTIONS
Setting up an industrial cluster for the production of equipment for the Arctic
“We have established the Association of Underwater Mining Units and a cluster for the development of underwater mining equipment, Vladimir Dorofeev, Chief Executive Officer, St. Petersburg Marine Design Bureau Malachite.
“Our main focus is on the Leader icebreaker. <...> It will escort vessels in the eastern part of the Arctic round-the-clock,” Oleg Ryazantsev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
Development of new technologies and materials
“Cold-resistant high-strength steels are the key pillar we are focusing on right now,” Oleg Ryazantsev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
“Today, Prometey has started developing industry-first materials, about 30 types of steels with a special chemical composition, absolutely non-corrosive, high-strength and cheap since their nickel content is a few times lower,” Alexey Oryshchenko, Director General, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’ – Prometey Central Research Institute of Structural Materials.
Research for the benefit of the Arctic development
“We have been running the Arctic programme for 5 years now. The programme covers all areas: biodiversity, the degradation of materials in actual Arctic conditions, the issues of adaptation of the indigenous peoples of the North to technological progress, non-trivial issues of radio communications, the development of cognitive technologies. Issues of the Arctic development call for a systemic approach based on big data, Vladislav Panchenko, Chairman of the Board, Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR).
Development of transport and logistics infrastructure
“The logistic development of the Arctic is essential for lifting off infrastructural restrictions on the economic growth,” Alexander Dynkin, President, Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Wide international cooperation
“We have a proven track record of cooperation. For more than a decade and a half, we have jointly taken on the monumental task of the disposal of decommissioned nuclear submarines and icebreakers in the Arctic in close cooperation with the world leading countries,” Mikhail Kovalchuk, President, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’.