Natural Resources Ministry: The issue of establishing year-round stations in the Arctic could be resolved next year
© RIA Novosti. Mihail Mokrushin

Natural Resources Ministry: The issue of establishing year-round stations in the Arctic could be resolved next year

The issue of funding the construction of all-season self-sustaining platforms for research in the Arctic could be resolved when forming the 2017-2019 budget, RIA Novosti reported citing Environment Minister Sergei Donskoi.

At this point, seasonal drifting stations are being created in the Russian Arctic, and the duration of the stations depends on climatic conditions. Fixed platforms will provide an opportunity for year-round research.

"We have developed a program that is being considered at various government commissions —to build a fixed platform that would include research and life-support capabilities for polar explorers plus many other facilities that could allow a wide range of research," Mr Donskoi said.

According to the minister, such a platform is estimated at about six billion rubles. Mr Donskoi noted that the funding issues could be resolved within the World Ocean federal targeted program. The project is likely to be discussed when considering the 2017-2019 budget.