Gazprom, the Yamal Peninsula and the Nenets People
OAO Gazprom, dominates the Russian gas and hydrocarbon sector, accounting for over 60% of Russian reserves and almost 85% of Russian production. Gazprom owns the Russian gas pipeline system, a key part of any country’s gas industry, and also has a legal monopoly on gas exports. A big question for oil and gas production in areas of reindeer husbandry is when the financing is in place to put these hard to get at resources onstream. One key plank in the plans for the Yamal Peninsula, the largest area of reindeer husbandry in the world is the Bovanenkovo-Ukhta Gas Pipeline which is expected to be launched in 2011.
With increasing focus on the resources of Yamal, there is more interest in the regions indigenous people, the most numerous of which are Nenets. It is likely that there will be an explosion of visitors to the region and this will doubtless add to the challenges that Nenets will be facing in the future. It may also be an opportunity. Here is the account of an English ‘explorer’ whose time with Nenets is now showing on the BBC.
