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Svalbard is the Norwegian Arctic archipelago located about midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.
Three large islands dominate the archipelago - the Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. The largest settlement is Longyearbyen.
The Svalbard Treaty (1920) recognises Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard and the 1925 Svalbard Act makes Svalbard a full part of the Kingdom of Norway.
Coal mining is the main industry on the archipelago. In addition, research and tourism have developed rapidly over the last years.
Svalbard has a major Russian settlement based in the mining town of Barentsburg.
Svalbard in 2005 had a population of approximately 2,400 people, of which about 55% were Norwegians and 45% Russian, Ukrainian and Polish. Over the last years, natives from several other countries have moved to the area to engage in the international research projects.
Svalbard to remain mining society
Coal mining is to remain a core industry at Svalbard, the Norwegian government writes in its new report on the archipelago.
The government in its Svalbard report confirms that the coal mining will have to be developed within the frames of the strict environmental regulations of the islands. Existing infrastructure should be applied as much as possible, newspaper Svalbardposten reports with reference to ANB.
The report also calls for the development of enhanced local preparedness and emergency systems following the increased shipping activities in the Arctic. Also research and tourism are highlighted in the report.
The report has not yet been published by government.
There are three coal mines in Svalbard, the Sveagruva with an annual production of two million tons per year, the Russian Barentsburg mine and a small mine in Longyearbyen used mainly to supply the town's own power plant.
The report also calls for the development of enhanced local preparedness and emergency systems following the increased shipping activities in the Arctic. Also research and tourism are highlighted in the report.
The report has not yet been published by government.
There are three coal mines in Svalbard, the Sveagruva with an annual production of two million tons per year, the Russian Barentsburg mine and a small mine in Longyearbyen used mainly to supply the town's own power plant.
