On 1 June Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik will open the world’s northernmost arctic marine research station, the Arctic Marine Laboratory, in Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard. Those attending the opening and the climate seminar on the following day will include Minister of Justice Odd Einar Dørum, Minister of the Environment Knut Arild Hareide, State Secretary Bjørn Haugstad of the Ministry of Education and Research, and Chairman of the UN Climate Panel Rajendra Pachauri.

The Arctic Marine Laboratory in Ny-Ålesund is the result of Norway having invested close to NOK 200 million over the past 10-12 years in upgrading the infrastructure in the former mining community of Ny-Ålesund. The Arctic Marine Laboratory has been built by the state-owned company Kings Bay AS, which will also operate it.

Ny-Ålesund is located at 79 degrees north, which is further north than practically any other site suitable for research. The fields of research include climate, atmospheric, pollution, flora, fauna and marine research. Every year a large number of researchers from many countries come to Ny-Ålesund. Eight countries have permanent research stations there: Germany, France, England, Italy, Japan, South Korea, China and Norway.

What was missing in the research community in Ny-Ålesund were facilities and equipment for marine research. Due to the fact that Atlantic and Arctic ocean currents converge off Svalbard, Ny-Ålesund is particularly well suited for studying marine micro-organisms, life in the ocean and climate changes that may be occurring.

The Arctic Marine Laboratory will cost NOK 33 million. The Norwegian State is the main contributor.

Notes for editors:

Members of the press are welcome to cover the opening of the Arctic Marine Laboratory in Ny-Ålesund on 1 and 2 June. 10 May is the deadline for registration to Adviser Aina Holst (tel. 79 02 72 85) in Kings Bay AS at radgiver@kingsbay.no with a copy to oivind.ostang@smk.dep.no.

Members of the press who wish to be present must as soon as possible book their flights to and from Longyearbyen. Kings Bay AS will take care of air and sea transport between Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund and of accommodation in Ny-Ålesund, which will cost NOK 4000. A boat will leave Longyearbyen on the evening of 31 May, returning on the morning of 3 June. Planes and helicopters will leave Longyearbyen on the afternoon of 1 June, returning on the afternoon of 2 June.

On the evening of 31 May Minister of Justice Odd Einar Dørum, Minister of the Environment Knut Arild Hareide and State Secretary Bjørn Haugstad of the Ministry of Education and Research will visit the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) in Longyearbyen. Immediately after the visit they will be taken on a guided tour of the Auroral Station. On the morning of 1 June they will visit the joint research expedition “Fram 2005” of the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Norwegian Defence, in the Fram Strait between Svalbard and Greenland.

For details about the events in Longyearbyen and on “Fram 2005”, please contact the Ministry of Justice: kathrine.kjelland@jd.dep.no, the Ministry of the Environment: karin.westrheim@md.dep.no, or the Ministry of Education and Research: karin.steenstrup@ufd.dep.no.

The provisional programme is as follows:

Tuesday 31 May:
In the evening Minister of Justice Dørum, Minister of the Environment Hareide and State Secretary Haugstad will visit the University Centre in Svalbard in Longyearbyen. Afterwards they will visit the Auroral Station, located outside the town.

Departure from Longyearbyen in the evening for participants and registered members of the press going to Ny-Ålesund by boat.

Wednesday 1 June:
Arrival in Ny-Ålesund for participants and registered members of the press coming from Longyearbyen by boat.

Departure from Longyearbyen by helicopter for the Ministers, the State Secretary, other participants and registered members of the press who are visiting “Fram 2005” in the Fram Strait. Arrival in Ny-Ålesund at approximately 13.00.

14.45: Departure by plane or helicopter from Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund for the Prime Minister, other participants and registered members of the press.

17.00: The Prime Minster opens the Arctic Marine Laboratory in Ny-Ålesund. Guided tour of the Laboratory afterwards.

18.30: Dinner

19.30: Boat excursion on Kongsfjorden for a limited number of participants and members of the press. Guided tour of Ny-Ålesund for the remaining participants and members of the press.

Thursday 2 June:
08.30: The Prime Minister opens the climate seminar at the Arctic Marine Laboratory in Ny-Ålesund. Participants include Chairman of the UN Climate Panel Rajendra Pachauri and Professor Chris Rapley of the British Antarctic Survey. The seminar will be led by Director Olav Orheim of the Norwegian Polar Institute.

13.00: Air transport from Ny-Ålesund to Longyearbyen for the Prime Minister, the Ministers, the State Secretary, other participants and members of the press who are returning to the mainland that day. The programme in Ny-Ålesund continues in the afternoon.

18.00: Plane and boat transport from Ny-Ålesund to Longyearbyen for participants and members of the press. The boat will arrive in Longyearbyen on the morning of 3 June.

Friday 3 June:
12.00: Last plane from Ny-Ålesund to Longyearbyen for remaining participants and members of the press.