St. Petersburg, the venue of RAO/CIS Offshore, has always been a leading center of Arctic expertise and remains at the forefront of research and development in the high latitudes and the ocean, including the continental shelf.

From October 7 to 10, St. Petersburg hosted RAO/CIS Offshore 2025, the 17th International Forum oil and gas resources development of the Russian Arctic and continental shelf. For over 30 years, the Forum has maintained its reputation as a leading international platform. It focuses on key aspects of continental shelf development — especially in the Arctic Ocean, the Russian Far East, and the Northern Sea Route — a position earned through its high standing, comprehensive coverage, and importance. The Forum’s program traditionally covers the entire range of topical issues concerning the sustainable development of the Russian Arctic and the exploration of the continental shelf.  
In 2025, RAO/CIS Offshore was included in the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum events for the first time, a move that highlights its growing importance to the industry.
St. Petersburg, the venue of RAO/CIS Offshore, has always been a leading center of Arctic expertise and remains at the forefront of research and development in the high latitudes and the ocean, including the continental shelf.
The grand opening of the Forum took place at the Mariinsky Palace. The Plenary session, titled "Strategic Priorities of the Russian Federation in the Arctic", featured Russia’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov; Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantin Pushkov; Head of the Presidential Directorate for National Maritime Policy Sergey Vakhrukov; President of the Kurchatov Institute Mikhail Kovalchuk; St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov; Murmansk Oblast Governor Andrey Chibis; Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Chernyshev; Deputy Chair of the Gazprom Management Committee Oleg Aksyutin; St. Petersburg Mining University Rector Vladimir Litvinenko; Chair of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg Alexander Belsky; and Secretary-General of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs Karen Hallberg, as well as leading industry experts, specialists from ministries, specialized agencies, and major companies. The session addressed all key aspects of how to develop the Arctic region, including transforming technology, optimizing logistics, creating effective infrastructure, introducing innovative monitoring systems and artificial intelligence tools, and ensuring environmental control.
More than 250 industry companies, research centers, and educational institutions from Russia, Kazakhstan, and China took part in RAO/CIS Offshore 2025, including senior executives and specialists attending the congress and exhibition programs, technical seminars, and youth session. Participants included oil and gas production companies and key customers of marine engineering such as Gazprom, Rosneft, Novatek, Tatneft, Gazprom Neft, Lukoil, and Transneft, as well as their Russian and international partners. Leading shipbuilding companies showcased their latest innovations and technology. These included Zvezda, Sevmash, Baltiysky Zavod, and the Far Eastern Center of Shipbuilding and Ship Repair. High-tech manufacturers from Rosatom and the United Shipbuilding Corporation actively participated, alongside major metallurgical enterprises such as OMK and TMK. The Forum also featured top design bureaus and research institutes, including Kurchatov Institute, Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Gazprom VNIIGAZ, Korall, Malakhit, Rubin, Lazurit, Krylov State Research Center, and many others.
The Forum’s business program was developed with active input from the Russian Ministry of Energy, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Gazprom, Kurchatov Institute, and leading companies involved in Arctic oil and gas projects. The program featured 14 conference sessions and specialized sessions covering the technical and economic aspects of continental shelf development. Leading experts shared their experience in oil and gas exploration and development, the construction and operation of offshore facilities in harsh ice conditions, hydrocarbon transportation, technological and process support for continental shelf infrastructure, and industrial and environmental safety. Over the four days of the conference, more than 165 presentations were delivered to the delegates.
The Exhibition, which focused on the development of Russian Arctic oil and gas fields, drew enormous interest from attendees. It showcased innovative projects, advanced equipment and technology for drilling and developing offshore hydrocarbon fields, and integrated solutions for ensuring the safety of offshore operations. Participants included Russian and Chinese companies.
Two booths were a major draw: one representing Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex, showcasing the capabilities of Russia’s largest shipyard, currently carrying out a strategic large-block ship construction project; and one representing Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, where attendees could explore the results of interdisciplinary research and experience a manned underwater module simulator.
Attendees could also stop by the booths of Russia’s key industrial equipment manufacturers and distributors: Elgaz (gas analysis equipment), Joint Professional Project and Supply (steel pipes and metal products), Petroline-A (measuring instruments for drilling), Ulyanovsk Industrial Valve Plant (pipeline valves), and Moskabelmet Group (cable and wire products), as well as Chinese companies Trust Valve (shut-off and control valves), Zhipeng Valve Group (shut-off and control valves), Xinhang Special Material (shipbuilding and offshore construction), and Jiaxing MT Stainless Steel (shut-off and control valves) and others.
According to participants of RAO/CIS Offshore 2025, the event demonstrated that developing the Arctic continental shelf requires close collaboration between science and industry, with particular emphasis on the importance of research support for all the latest Arctic projects.
Organisers of the Forum: the Government of the Russian Federation, Gazprom, Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, Gazprom VNIIGAZ, Russian Academy of Sciences, and RESTEC Exhibition Company. Official support: the Government of St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Partners and Sponsors: Gazprom PJSC, General Partner of the Conference and Gazprom Dobycha Shelf Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Partner of the Youth Session.

The Organizing Committee of RAO/CIS Offshore 2025 thanks all partners for their support and assistance in organizing the event and expresses its gratitude to all participants for their collaboration and trust.