Murmansk, January 30th, 2009. Governor of the Murmansk region Yury Evdokimov sent a letter to the First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, in which he expresses concern about pre-bankruptcy status of the federal state unitary enterprise “Arcticmorneftegazrazvedka” (“AMNGR”), said press-secretary of the governor Nikolay Sigin.

In this letter the Governor reminded that in the nineties because of lack of state- and commercial orders of Russian companies rental contracts of “AMNGR” with foreign companies on drilling rigs and specialized vessels allowed to preserve human resources of the enterprise, modernize the fleet, attract financial resources for continuation of work in the Arctic region and to increase the rate of tax payments.

“In 2008 upon instructions of federal authorities on cancellation of foreign contracts FSUE “AMNGR” returned vessels and drilling rigs homeward (Murmansk) but currently they are not provided with work. Enterprise does not have financial resources for equipment maintenance and as a result safety and capacity of unique federal property is under threat, - said the head of the region. This company, being strategic, has pre-bankruptcy status”.

Yury Evdokimov informed the first deputy prime minister, that further ship demurrage will lead to dismissal of considerable quantity of workers and all level budgets revenue downswing. Under conditions of world economic crisis this can have an extremely negative impact on social situation in the region.

“In view of national interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region, strategic projects on gas and oilfield development on the continental shelf of west-arctic seas - the letter says, - I ask You, Igor Ivanovich, to take requisite measures for maintenance of unique enterprise, providing it with state contracts for marine and exploration work and rendering financial support for specialized fleet”.

Meanwhile today in mass media appeared information that FSUE “AMNGR” may in prospect enter into the structure of Zarubezhneft JSC. This state company can get the possibility to pretend to offshore licenses in Russia. In connection with this it is interested in privatization of “Arcticmorneftegazrazvedka” and its accession to the structure of the company. And Zarubezhneft JSC is ready to couch these intentions in form of appeal to the government in case of discovery of new offshore deposits.