Murmansk might abandon renewable energy plans
Regional authorities in Murmansk might be about to reconsider plans for a major development of alternative energy in the Kola Peninsula.
No representatives of the regional administration of Governor Dmitry Dmitriyenko attended a recent renewable energy forum in Murmansk. That might indicate that the authorities are no longer seriously considering alternative energy developments in the region, environmental organization and forum organizer Bellona argues on its website.
The administration of former regional governor Yuri Yevdokimov invested major efforts in the exploration of alternative energy development in the region and actively participated in the Bellona forums. Yevdokimov was replaced by Dmitriyenko in April this year.
The Kola Peninsula is by experts considered to be among the best suited places in the world for wind power development. Winds from the Barents Sea almost constantly rage along the Arctic coasts of the region.
As BarentsObserver has reported, several companies, among them the Dutch-based Windlife Energy, have expressed interest in the wind potential of the region. Windmill parks have been projected both for sites near Teriberka, northeast of Murmansk city, and in Pechenga Rayon, along the border to Norway.
A major generator of hydropower and nuclear power, Murmansk Oblast has for many years had a surplus of energy. At the same time, new major industrial projects, among them the Shtokman gas project in the Barents Sea, will demand major energy supplies. That has made the region look for new generation sources, among them wind power as well as the construction of a new nuclear power plant.
