Russia Uses Key South African Port to Look for Minerals in Antarctica

A large part of Russia’s oil and gas exploration fleet is currently using South Africa’s biggest harbor as a launchpad for forays into Antarctica, the planet’s last unmined frontier. 

A container ship moves out of Cape Town commercial harbor on Feb. 24, 2023. Gianluigi Guercia/Getty Images

A large part of Russia’s oil and gas exploration fleet is currently using South Africa’s biggest harbor as a launching pad for forays to Antarctica, the planet’s last unmined frontier.

Based in Cape Town with Moscow’s seismic blaster ships, the Kremlin’s mineral prospecting company, Rosgeo, hasn’t tried to keep its activities in Antarctica hidden.