Rosneft, Rosatom reach agreement on Arctic cooperation
© RIA Novosti. Pavel Lisitsin

Rosneft, Rosatom reach agreement on Arctic cooperation

Rosneft and Rosatom have signed a cooperation agreement for the joint implementation of long-term strategic projects, and the development and introduction of import-substituting equipment and technologies. The document was signed by Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin and Rosatom General Director Sergei Kiriyenko at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Arctic-Info news agency reports.

The sides are interested in working together in fields such as geological prospecting technologies and equipment; developing and exploiting Arctic shelf deposits, including icebreaker escorts during oil and gas prospecting and production; systems for controlling and measuring the parameters of production processes; energy efficiency; industrial safety and security, and environmental protection. A bilateral program of science and technology cooperation will be drafted and approved under the agreement.

Rosneft and Rosatom already boast substantial cooperation experience, the Rosneft press service said. Atomflot icebreakers were used for the large-scale Kara-Winter and Kara-Summer research expeditions, sponsored by Rosneft, and for escorting ships and marine equipment during geological prospecting projects.

Rosatom is already developing equipment that Rosneft needs for geophysical research. Experimental pressure sensors will start operating at pilot facilities in Udmurtia, at the Samotlor and Vankor deposits.