Russia wants to tap into oil

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a vessel to make a 90-day voyage to the Arctic in a bid to tap into its vast potential oil, gas and mineral wealth. His scientists claim that an underwater ridge close to the North Pole is actually part of Russia’s continental shelf.

The countries ringing the Arctic, under current international law, are Russia, Canada, USA, Norway, and Denmark and each are restricted to a 200-mile economic zone around their coasts.

The vessel contains 85 researchers and is led by Artur Chilingarov who is head of the Russian Polar Explorers’ Association. They plan to set up mini-submarines that will plunge deeper than 4 kilometers near the North Pole.

Many anticipate that the ridge has 10 billion tons of gas and oil deposits and sizeable sources of diamonds, gold, tin, manganese, nickel, lead and platinum.

The move has irritated many, Canada and the USA have expressed concern and environmental groups have warned that the claim could devastate one of the world’s last unspoilt areas. However, witnesses have said that the move is characteristic of Vladimir Putin. The President is pushing for a strong Russia and oil and gas supplies are vital to his plans.

According to a spokesperson for the Geological Society in London, the ridge is not part of a continental shelf. It is the point at which 2 ocean floor plates under the Arctic Ocean are spreading apart. It extends from Russia across to Canada, meaning Canada could say the ridge is part of their continental shelf.