The Kremlin wants to establish a research center in the disused mining town – which has been a tourist destination in recent years.
The news first became known in the autumn, but more details about the science center have now come to light.
It was the Barents Observer newspaper that mentioned the new details first. It is the magazine Russki Vestnik Spitzbergen that publishes the plans in its first edition for 2024.
Svalbard is subject to Norway, which has sovereignty over the archipelago. However, the settlements of Barentsburg and Pyramiden are inhabited mainly by Russians and Ukrainians, as the Russian state-controlled company Trust Arktikugol has mining operations in Barentsburg.
Last year, a Russian Orthodox cross that was set up at the Pyramiden had to be removed after the Governor of Svalbard ordered it.
Russian Orthodox cross must be removed
Big plans
The majority of the Russian and Ukrainian population on Svalbard live in Barentsburg. Mining at Pyramiden ended in 1998.
– The aim of creating a center is to facilitate cooperation between friendly states for in-depth studies of the Earth’s geospheres in the Arctic region, says Russki Vestnik Spitzbergen.
Russia has already conducted research activities from Barentsburg since 2016.
Climate, geophysics, geology and glaciology (the study of glaciers) are other research fields the center will facilitate.
According to the Barents Observer, research into cultural history, medical biology and palaeography (the study of writing systems) is also planned.
It is the state-owned coal company Trust Arktikugol that will oversee the research centre. Dagbladet has contacted Trust Arktikugol for a comment, so far without a reply.
– A strategy
Arctic expert Elizabeth Buchanan tells the newspaper that Russia aims to increase its presence in the Arctic archipelago.
– Russia, by maintaining its presence, even by increasing its presence in recent years, poses a security challenge for Norway, says Buchanan to the Barents Observer.
On May 9 last year, Russians celebrated the so-called Victory Day on May 9 with a heavy presence in Barentsburg. Victory Day marks the Red Army’s victory over Nazi Germany and the latter’s capitulation; thus the end of the Second World War in Europe.
On 9 May, Russia celebrated Victory Day after the Second World War on Svalbard. Video: Instagram/Trus Arktikugol.
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China is among the countries that have criticized the Norwegian authorities’ restrictions on research on the vulnerable archipelago.
Buchanan says both China and Russia want to operate within the Svalbard Treaty – but stretch – the regulations to increase their presence.
– When both Russia and China work within the treaty to maintain a presence – and look for ways to increase activity within the regulations, Norway has a difficult problem to deal with, says the researcher.
