The Ministry of Natural Resources Received Three Applications for Geological Exploration of Subsoil Areas in the Seas This Winter
All three areas are located in the Kara Sea
The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources received applications for geological exploration of three subsoil areas in the Kara Sea during the “winter window” for submitting applications – from December 1 to January 31. This was reported to TASS by the press service of the ministry.
The Ministry of Natural Resources said that applications have been submitted from the Yamal Vostok company for the federal areas of the Western Geophysical and Arctic Sea, as well as from the Yamal West company for the Karsky site. All three sites are located in the Kara Sea.
The Yamal East and Yamal West companies are 50% owned by Yamal Research (formerly Yamalshelf) and 50% owned by Amir Galimov. In turn, Yamal Research is 100% owned by Galimov. Until 2023, ex-Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Igor Yusufov owned shares in these companies.
“At the moment, a draft government order approving a list of areas of federal significance located in the internal sea waters and territorial sea of Russia, which are issued for use without auctions, is being approved by the federal authorities,” the Ministry of Natural Resources noted.
The ministry also added that during the “summer window” in 2023 (from June 1 to July 31), Lukoil again submitted an application for the Nadezhda site in the Baltic Sea. The oil company has already tried several times to obtain the right to explore hydrocarbons in this area. “The government returned the documents and asked Lukoil to update the environmental research program, since the materials included a program for 2021,” the Ministry of Natural Resources said.
