The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia together with the Novatek company presented a model of the new wintering complex at the Vostok Antarctic station.
The total area of the station will be 2.5 thousand m2. It will consist of five modules: living and recreation areas, a laboratory, a power plant and a garage. The facility is scheduled to be commissioned in 2024.
Within the framework of the project, elements of the wintering complex will be designed and manufactured, the necessary equipment, machinery, and transport platforms will be purchased.
“This is a unique, first-of-its-kind project. It is symbolic that the elements of the new complex will be delivered to Antarctica in the year of the 200th anniversary of its discovery by Russian sailors. The unique work of Soviet and Russian scientists made it possible to turn the seemingly inaccessible polar region of the Earth into a fairly well-studied part of the planet. Today our main task is to provide scientists who work there with modern household, engineering and research infrastructure,” said Dmitry Kobylkin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.
By creating a new station in Antarctica, Russia intends to strengthen the position of its science on this continent.
The meeting was attended by Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, Igor Levitin, Chairman of Novatek, Leonid Mikhelson, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation, Irina Okladnikova, Head of Roshydromet, Igor Shumakov, Director of AANII, Andrey Makarov and General Director of OJSC Zapsibgazprom, Yuri Vodopyanov.
