High North News - News, analysis and debate about politics and business in the North

Yamal LNG exports

Russia’s Arctic ‘Yamal LNG’ Gas Plant Saw a Record 287 Cargo Loadings in 2024

While Western sanctions have impeded or complicated much of Russia’s energy economy, the Yamal LNG plant continues to export liquefied gas like clockwork. Every month around 25 vessels load cargo at the Sabetta terminal, for a total of 287 deliveries in 2024.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

The Flight to America Did Not Turn Out as Planned

Comment: They fled Norwegian tax policies and a lack of predictability in the industrial policy. Those who left for the US got the worst of it. It turns out the grass wasn't greener on the other side of the Atlantic.

Serafima Andreeva, forsker ved Fridtjof Nansens Institutt (FNI). (Foto: Arctic Circle)

“The US Can Become More Unpredictable on Climate Issues in the Arctic Council Than Russia”

The Kingdom of Denmark’s Arctic Council chairship program form a good basis for further cooperation between the eight Arctic states. However, engaging the Trump administration in the council’s work on climate change could be particularly challenging, says FNI researcher.

Notices

SCIENCE / 23.04.2025

Vanishing Sea Ice at The Poles: Crisis For The Entire Planet

Extremely low sea ice levels in the Arctic and Antarctica signal a "new…

BUSINESS / 22.04.2025

Iceland expects decline in number of tourists from the US

Americans have long been the largest group of tourists in Iceland. About…

POLITICS / 22.04.2025

Finland's eastern border to remain closed until further notice

The Finnish government has renewed its decision on the closure of border…

SCIENCE / 22.04.2025

Tourists ruin research data on Svalbard

The research station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, has strict rules regarding…

Sohvi (34) Overwinters in the Greenlandic Ice: “The Sea Ice Has Agency of Its Own”

Researcher Sohvi Kangasluoma (34) lives in a sailboat while journeying across the Arctic, researching the sea ice that impacts and defines the very lives of the Arctic people. She emphasizes the agency of the ice, stating, "We are not alone here, and the sea ice is very much alive."

Yamal 2017

EU Imports of Russian LNG Decrease by One-Third During Month of April

For the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine EU imports of Russian liquefied natural gas have recorded a significant drop. Figures for April indicate a 35 percent reduction in deliveries in comparison to the same period last year.

Norwegian Anja Kristine Salo is the Arctic Council's New Head of Communications

Anja Kristine Salo has been appointed as the new Head of Communications for the Arctic Council. She will take up the position on August 1st. “For me, this is a dream job that combines everything I am passionate about,” Salo tells HNN.

High North News investigates: The Russian Gas Flow

Yamal 2017

EU Imports of Russian LNG Decrease by One-Third During Month of April

For the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine EU imports of Russian…

Also see

EU Paid Near 300% More for Russian LNG in 2024 Compared to Early 2021

EU Countries Spent Close to €7bn on Russian LNG in 2024

Russia’s Novatek Eyes India as Market for Sanctioned Arctic LNG

EU Fails to Act on Russian LNG As Some Member States Discuss Restart of Gas Imports After War

Germany Can’t Shake Russian Gas: LNG Purchases from Arctic Yamal Project Skyrocket

Yamal LNG

China Looking to Buy More Russian Arctic LNG as EU Aims to Announce Plans in May to Phase Out Imports

As the EU is gearing up to publish its roadmap to phase out Russian LNG, China’s…

Russia Continues Working on Sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 With Wison Power Modules Installation and Gas Flaring

New satellite images reveal the progress Novatek has made at the Arctic LNG 2 project…

How Russia’s Security Service FSB Gained Control Over the Yamal LNG Fleet Reportedly Setting Up Covert Cargo Operations

A targeted operation by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) successfully pushed…

Chinese research station in Ny Ålesund

China Asked to Remove Lion Statues in Svalbard

Norwegian authorities require the lion sculptures that guard the entrance to China's research station in Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard to be removed.

Fra fallskjermhopp ved Takvatnet, indre Troms

US Soldiers Deploy for Military Exercises in Europe, Including the High North

US troops are headed to Europe for the large-scale US Army Exercise, Defender 25, with follow-on exercises with Allies and partners, including airborne operations in the High North and the Baltics.

Yamal LNG

China Looking to Buy More Russian Arctic LNG as EU Aims to Announce Plans in May to Phase Out Imports

As the EU is gearing up to publish its roadmap to phase out Russian LNG, China’s appetite for deliveries of supercooled gas from the Arctic could see a rise in the coming months.

Our High North Neighbor, Greenland

Op-ed: US Army Veteran and Historian Mike Thornton looks at the history of Greenland amid increased US interest in the Arctic island.

28 620 av totalt 40 369 stemmeberettigede deltok i valget til Grønlands parlament Inatsisartut 11. mars 2025. Stemmeprosenten er på 70,9 prosent – en økning på 5 prosent siden 2021-valget. (Foto: Mads Schmidt Rasmussen/norden.org)

The Kingdom of Denmark's Upcoming Arctic Council Chairship: Indigenous and Arctic People at the Top of the Agenda

The Kingdom of Denmark takes over the chairship of the Arctic Council next month. "We will work diligently to keep the council vibrant and resilient, first and foremost for the Indigenous Peoples and inhabitants of the Arctic," states the realm, with Greenland at the forefront.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

They Make a Living Giving Saving Tips to People Who Barely Have a Dollar to Spare

Comment: In the middle of the Donald Trump-created chaos, even privileged problems get their time in the spotlight. The news columns are filled with financial advisors giving investment tips to people without a dollar to spare. An American madness threatens the finance world but simultaneously shadows the nearly immeasurable problems that are not listed on the stock exchange.

Foto: Emil Nordin/Skogsindustrierna

Challenging Situation for the Swedish Forest Industry

The combination of high costs and low demand is hitting Swedish sawmills, pulp, and paper producers hard. Increased trade barriers are also creating uncertainty for the industry.

Tok imot delegasjon fra Det hvite hus for to uker siden: Som daværende sjef for Pituffik rombase i Grønland, var oberst Susannah Meyers vertskap for besøket fra USAs visepresident J.D. Vance ved basen 28. mars. Med i hans følge var andredame Usha Vance, USAs nasjonale sikkerhetsrådgiver Mike Waltz og energiminister Chris Wright. (Foto: Jaime Sanchez/USAs romstyrker)

Head of US Military Base in Greenland Fired with Reference to Partisan Behaviour

Colonel Susannah Meyers was recently removed as commander of the US Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. “Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump's agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense,” said chief Pentagon spokesperson.

Research Institute Wilson Center Shuts Down After Executive Order

The Trump administration's attack on research and education has claimed another victim, the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. The nonpartisan foreign policy think tank is home to the Polar Institute, a leading forum for discussion and policy analysis of Arctic and Antarctic issues.

Et norsk F-35 jagerfly på Island i vinter for å løse Nato-oppdraget Iceland Air Policing. (Foto: Ole Andreas Vekve/Forsvaret)

The High North and the F-35 Lightning II

Op-ed: Norway recently received the last of the 52 F-35 fighter jets ordered from the US. In this op-ed, US Army Veteran and Historian Mike Thornton provides an overview of the fighter jet and its capabilities in the defense of the High North.

Mads Quist Fredriksen og Patti Bruns

Arctic Economic Council and Arctic Mayors’ Forum Welcomes the New Chairship Programme From the Kingdom of Denmark

As the voice of the Arctic’s private sector, and principal organisation uniting municipalities across the high north, the Arctic Economic Council (AEC) and Arctic Mayor’s Forum (AMF), respectively welcome the alignment in strategic priorities.

Sara Olsvig

ICC Welcomes Strong Emphasis on Indigenous Peoples in Arctic Council Chairship Programme

The Inuit Circumpolar Council supports the strong and important aspirations of the incoming Chairship to “keep the Arctic Council vibrant and resilient, first and foremost for the Indigenous Peoples, and for the Arctic to remain a region of stability and constructive cooperation”.

The One Ocean Expedition Is About to Kick Off

On Friday, the sailing ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl embarks on a 12-month voyage called One Ocean Expedition. In August and September, the ship will sail through the Northwest Passage, with researchers and students from UiT, the Arctic University of Norway, on board.