RF re-apply to the UN for an extension of the continental shelf – BBC Russian

In recent years, Russia has increased its scientific and military activity in the Arctic

Russia re-submitted to the UN a request for extension of the continental shelf in the Arctic due to the addition of the Lomonosov Ridge and the other sections of the Arctic Ocean.

Application Russia says that these bottom areas are natural components of the continental margin – on this basis of the Convention on the Law of the Sea allows countries to expand economic zone.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia Sergey Donskoy said last fall that the application It refers to the increment of the exclusive economic zone of 1.2 million square kilometers of the Arctic Ocean, which will increase the available Russian hydrocarbon reserves of more than 5 billion tons of equivalent fuel.

Russia has already filed a similar request in 2001 year, but the UN Commission rejected it, saying there was insufficient evidence. In the underwater Lomonosov Ridge is also claiming Canada.

The North Pole and the adjacent region of the Arctic Ocean does not belong to any country but Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States have the rights to the 370-mile exclusive economic zone from their shores. According to geologists, this area can be about 30% of undiscovered natural gas and 15% oil.

In March 2014, the Commission granted Russia’s claim to land in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk area of ​​52 thousand sq km.

In recent years, Russia has increased its scientific and military activity in the Arctic. As it became known last autumn in Russia until 2017, forming a new Arctic Command “North”, “for the protection of national interests in the Arctic”.