State-owned oil giant Rosneft has opened the first Arctic scientific outpost on the shore of the Khara-Tumus Peninsula in the Khatanga Gulf of the Laptev Sea, the corporate website reports.

"The field camp will allow scientists to study licensed corporate deposits in the Laptev Sea during the winter season. During the rest of the year, the base will be used to test new Arctic technologies and materials, including technologies for controlling the ice situation," the website reports.

Scientists working at the base will monitor meteorological, actinometric, hydrological and ice conditions in the Khatanga Gulf. The base will make it possible to compile natural-climatic reports for the safe development and exploitation of licensed deposits all year round. Biological research being conducted here will help monitor the local environment and preserve the region's biodiversity.

Construction of the base began in August 2016 during the Kara Summer 2016 expedition. The facility, which can accommodate 30 people, boasts world-class polar-station equipment, as well as fire-safety and environmental-protection systems, specialized laboratories, a workshop for repairing vehicles and equipment, a helipad and comfortable living quarters. It also features communications systems and internet access.

The base is equipped with all sorts of vehicles, including quad-bikes, snowmobiles and a special-purpose tractor that can operate in subzero temperatures.