I have my suspicions about what they are after and it sure isn't to conserve Arctic Sea Ice. The Economist article I mentioned in the post says a lot about their plans right in the opening paragraph.

Arctic sea-ice is melting. For many that is a source of alarm. But for others, the ice is still not melting fast enough. They would like to give it a helping hand. Clear lanes through the Arctic ocean would permit commercial and naval shipping to travel quickly between the Atlantic and the Pacific. These lanes might also assist the search for oil and gas.