Yamal--NenetsNenets - – Alberta RelationsRelations PROFILE DID YOU KNOW? RELATIONSHIP OVERVIEW Area: 750,000 km² (the largest administrative region of Tyumen) • In 1993, the new Russian • Commercial relations between Alberta constitution granted Yamal-Nenets and the western Siberian region of Capital: Salekhard an enhanced autonomous status Yamal-Nenets are long-standing and Other Major Centres: Noyabrsk and Novy within the Tyumen oblast. focus on the gas industry. Urengoy • Yamal-Nenets is located in the • Until 2010, both Alberta and Yamal- center of northern Siberia in the Nenets were members of the Population: 507,400 (2002 Census) Russian Far North. More than 50% Northern Forum, an organization that Language: Russian, Nentsi of the area lies north of the Arctic brings together sub-national Circle. governments from a number of Government: Yamal-Nenets is an northern countries to address • The Nenets peoples of Yamal are autonomous Okrug located within the common political, environmental and indigenous to the area. Many have Tyumen oblast. It is administered by a economic issues. Alberta withdrew its maintained their traditional Governor & elected legislative council membership in 2010. (Duma), and holds three seats in the nomadic way of life and still travel Russian Federal Assembly: two in the by sled and reindeer, live in tepee- • On December 1, 1997 Alberta signed Council of Federation and one in the federal like structures called chum, exist a co-operation agreement with State Duma. off the land, and worship their own Yamal-Nenets, covering such matters deities. as education, training and aboriginal Head of Government: issues. Russians account for approximately Governor Dmitry Kobylkin (appointed • 60% of the population, with • Alberta has provided customized February 2010) Ukrainians being the largest training programs to Yamal-Nenets Currency: $1 CDN = 29.49 Roubles; minority group. government officials, on a cost recovery basis, in the areas of public 1 Rouble = $0.03 CDN (July 2010) • In 2005, the same year Alberta expenditure management, healthcare, celebrated its Centennial, Yamal- Key Industry Sectors: Natural gas, oil, and secondary education Nenets’ celebrated its 75th year as and minerals (manganese, phosphorus & administration. rare precious metals). an autonomous region. Input was provided from the departments of: Advanced Education & Technology, Agriculture & Rural Development, Education and Energy October 2010 Taiwan – Alberta YAMAL-NENETS ECONOMY • On January 28, 2010, Gazprom, PGNiG RECENT VISITS and Europol Gaz signed an agreement Yamal-Nenets receives considerable • for long-term gas co-operation, Rforeignelations investment, totaling 6% of all • June 2006: A delegation from Yamal- including extending natural gas supply foreign capital investment in Russia. Nenets visited Alberta on a CIDA- from Russia to Poland until 2037 and funded study tour under the Canada- • Natural gas production remains the transporting gas to Western Europe Russian Northern Development most important sector of Yamal- through Polish territory by the “Yamal- Partnership Program (NORDEP). Nenets’ economy. Europe” pipeline until 2045. • July 2005: Yamal-Nenets’ Duma Yamal-Nenets is home to 70% of • Chairman, the Honourable Sergey Russia’s stock of white salmon. EDUCATION AND CULTURE Kharvuchi, headed a large delegation Fishing remains an important and cultural exhibit to Edmonton’s economic activity. • Previous training programs in Alberta Klondike Days to celebrate Alberta’s for officials from Yamal-Nenets have • The northern Ural Mountains in Centennial. deepened ties and encouraged Yamal- western Yamal-Nenets contain vast • February 2003: Yamal-Nenets’ mineral resources. Nenets to look to Alberta when sourcing infrastructure development, and Governor, Mr. Yuri Neyelov, met with • Other important industries include equipment and training partnerships. Premier Klein in Calgary. the processing of canned fish, • February 2002: Yamal-Nenets’ Deputy hydroelectricity, forestry, fur farming, • Yamal-Nenets participated for the first th Governor met with Premier Klein in reindeer herding, and woodworking. time as a guest contingent in the 18 Arctic Winter Games (AWG), which Moscow during the Team Canada Trade Mission. were held in Fort McMurray in March EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES 2004. The 37-member team competed • September 2000: Former Alberta in traditional winter sport events. The Municipal Affairs Minister, the • Yamal-Nenets’ large gas reserves AWG is held every other year and Honourable Walter Paszkowski, make it an important strategic brings together over 2,000 young accompanied by Member of the partner for Alberta, and may enable amateur athletes from regions north of Legislative Assembly LeRoy Johnson, Alberta to access other sectors and the 55th parallel. Yamal-Nenets also led an Alberta delegation to Yamal- regions. participated in the 19th and the 20th Nenets. AWG held respectively in the Kenai • Areas for future growth and • June 2000: Governor Neyelov made his Peninsula (Alaska) (2006), Yellowknife development in Yamal-Nenets fourth visit to Alberta to attend the (2008)and Grande Prairie (2010). include: infrastructure improvement, World Petroleum Congress and met construction, energy and with Premier Klein and Minister of IIR. environmental regulatory systems, medical equipment and training, ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY education and training, and DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION aboriginal affairs. • Seven indigenous populations, including the Nentsi and Khanty peoples, inhabit • The Russian Ambassador to Canada is ENERGY the Yamal-Nenets Okrug. His Excellency Georgy Mamedov. • The indigenous peoples in Yamal- • The Yamal-Nenets region contains • The Canadian Ambassador to Russia is Nenets number over 35,000 and many over 75% of Russia’s natural gas Mr. John Sloan. continue to live by reindeer herding. reserves and 10% of its oil reserves. • Russia’s Honorary Consul in Alberta is • Assuring a sustainable future for its • The oil and gas industry in Yamal- Mr. Sergey Timoschenko. indigenous population’s way of life is a Nenets is 93% of the area’s total significant challenge for the Okrug • Mr. Boris Belostotsky is Yamal-Nenets’ industrial production. administration. Difficulties include representative in Alberta. • The Yamal-Nenets region produces balancing the growth of the petroleum over 90% of Russia’s natural gas and industry to mitigate the loss of 12% of its oil. pastureland necessary for the indigenous way of life. • In September 2009, Russian state- run Gazprom signed co-operation agreement with Yamal-Nenets to explore the potential for gas exploitation and the development of new gas pipelines. For more information, contact: Alberta Intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal Relations Tel: 780-427-6543 Fax: 780-427-0699 www.albertacanada.com .