The Nenets Autonomous Okrug in major parts of 2009 had the biggest growth in industrial output in Russia, the latest Barents Monitoring reports shows.

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev recommends Vyacheslav Gayzer as new Governor of the Republic of Komi Komi. If his candidacy is approved by the regional parliament, the long-serving public elected Vladimir Torlopov will have to abandon his post.

In course of the year, Norilsk Nickel’s own fleet transported nearly 1 million tons of goods, including 449.000 tons of metal products and 156.000 tons of nickel matte.

Last month Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, the company in charge of pipeline maintenance in Alaska, announced that it would most likely be moving over to contract positions for maintenance of its 800 mile long pipeline. And those job will be going to the non unionizes Arctic Slope Regional Corp. The purpose of shifting from full-time union work to contractual non union position was in order for the company to save money when it came to workers benefits, but will put unionized crew members out of work.

The 2010 quota is within an interval that researchers believe provides adequate security with regard to protecting the whale stocks, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal affairs.

Russia’s largest shipping company Sovcomflot in course of the last five years tripled its fleet’s total deadweight and quintupled its market value. Next summer the company will start a pilot project on cargo transport eastwards along the Northern Sea Route.

Erik Lahnstein from the The Norwegian Centre Party is appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Norwegian policy in the High North.

Finland’s division into six provinces is coming to an end from the beginning of 2010.

All the six Finnish provinces are becoming history along with the posts of provincial governors. They are replaced by six Regional Administrative Agencies, as well as 15 Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.