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Каспинфо декабрь 2000 |
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Название: Материалы на английском - IV Главные Пункты: * Переговоры по статусу Каспия вновь зашли в тупик. В. Калюжный отметил, что во многом этому виной неконструктивная позиция Ирана, который не согласен с Россией, Казхастаном и Азербайджаном, и настаивает на равных долях моря для всех прикаспийских государств и пытается вести переговоры с каждой страной отдельно (начиная с Туркменистана). * Северные районы Казахстана, в том числе и столица - Астана, получат российских газ с месторождений Тюмени по газопроводу, ТЭО которого разрабатывают сейчас Газпромразвитие и Казахский Гипрогаз. * В Азербайджане растет (по сравнению с прошлым годом) добыча газа и нефти. * Канадская компания Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd, работая в Казхастане, получила 109 млн. долларов прибыли за 9 месяцев текущего года. * Казахстан и Туркменистан поддерживают иранское направление транспортировки своих углеводородов. * Казахстан по-прежнему привлекателен для нефтяных компаний, для которых созданы такие условия, что они продолжают стремится в эту страну. * И другие сообщения (13.12.2000) Полный Текст Материалы на английском - IV МАТЕРИАЛЫ НА АНГЛИЙСКОМ ***** Caspian Negotiations Grind to a Halt Moscow unhappy with Iran's stance By Asya Gajizaseh, NG reporter The negotiations concerning the Caspian Sea's legal status have once again reached a stalemate. This may result in changing the format of the ad hoc working group at the level of the Caspian Sea littoral states' deputy foreign ministers. Such was the implication of a statement by the Russian presidential special envoy, Viktor Kaliuzhny, that he made during his talks with Azerbaijani President Gheidar Aliev and in his presentation at the conference on Caspian Sea Development Management. Speaking on the Caspian's status, Kalyuzhny referred to Iran's stance as non-constructive as the latter delayed multilateral meetings of the Caspian states' experts for no reason. According to him, Tehran changes its position because it is not happy with the proposals ("of Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Iran insists on equal division of the sea (20% to each of the states), but this idea does not satisfy Russia. "For this reason the Irani party holds bilateral meetings and "tries to score off Russia. This effort appeals to Turkmenistan," Kalyuzhny said. In the words of Russia's special envoy, the Irani FM Kamal Kharrazi said during his meeting with Russia's FM Igor Ivanov that he had expected Kalyuzhny to come to Iran with constructive proposals. Kalyuzhny was unable to understand this allegation. Why were his proposals considered constructive by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan but not constructive by Iran? The Russian diplomat stated that if Iran does not start to be more active, Russia will initiate meetings of experts in Moscow. Russia has sent its project to Azerbaijan and now it is under consideration. Moscow expects that President Vladimir Putin's visit to Baku will result in signing a declaration on the Caspian like that between Russia and Kazakhstan. Russia is planning to hold a meeting of the Caspian states' presidents resembling the Shanghai Five - and the Russian president supports this idea. Regarding the stances of Azerbaijan and Russia, Russia's deputy minister expressed his satisfaction with the "rapprochement" between them outlined during the Baku discussions. In turn, the Azerbaijani President Gheidar Aliev seconded Kalyuzhny's proposal on signing the declaration and holding a Caspian summit on the status of the Caspian. Speaking at the conference, Mr. Kalyuzhny said that all rights regarding the Caspian should belong exclusively to the Caspian states. According to him, "Russia cannot agree with sectoral division because this 'partitioning' of the Caspian by state borders would allow the littoral states set in these sectors the rules neglecting others' interests. Russia supports the median line idea as this supposes to split fields and promising oil and gas structures rather than territory." Russia's representative also said that the seabed delimitation talks could be more efficient through an agreement between the parties to apply a 50:50 principle to disputed fields; expenses should be compensated to the party that has initiated work in the field, otherwise it would fully own the field. No third parties are allowed to be involved in implementing this method. Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moscow **** Gas for New Kazakh Capital ASTANA (Transcaspian Project). An expanded session for a project to provide gas for Kazakhstan's new capital was held in Astana. Astana, like many other northern cities and towns, does not have its own natural gas resources. As a result, the ecological situation in the region is getting worse, coal being the main source of energy here. Construction of a new gas pipeline from Russia to Astana will be the first move towards providing the country's north with natural gas. The Kazakh government has instructed KazTransGaz to conduct preparatory work for the project to provide the republic's north with natural gas. The new pipeline will connect the cities of Ishim, Petropavlovsk, Kokshetau, Astana and Karaganda. Gas will be pumped into the cross-country pipeline not far from Ishim, from Russian territory (from deposits in Tumen region), and supplied to all places, towns and cities in the area. Russia's Gazpromrazvitiye is doing a feasibility study for the project, and Kazakhstan's Giprogaz has prepared a forecast of gas demand in the region for the next 15 years. The planned gas pipeline will cross the North Kazakhstan and Akmolinsk regions, as well as the northern part of Karaganda region, including Karaganda and the neighboring towns. Energy and industrial enterprises, public utility services and the local population will be major gas consumers. The "blue fuel" will be used for heating public and residential buildings, as well as for agricultural needs. The first potential users of the Russian gas are the steam power plants of Petropavlovsk, Astana and the district boiler-house Kokteshau, which can process a total of 1,452 million cubic meters a year (2005), a source from the PR department of KazTransGaz said. Such a volume of consumption will be insufficient for the gas pipeline to pay off in the immediate future. Therefore, to make the project economically viable, the main line should be extended to Karaganda. Yet, the first project phase will be construction of a pipeline sector to Astana. Construction and linking of distributed gas-supply systems will take up to 15 years. The planned project participants are: Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy, Industry and Trade, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology, Russia's Gazprom, Giprogazcentre (Nizhny Novgorod), Stroitransgaz (Moscow), Kazakhoil, KazTransOil, KazTransGaz, TransPetroleum and the city and regional administrations where the pipeline will be laid. ***** Azerbaijan Increases Oil Production BAKU (Interfax). The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani republic (SOCAR) produced 7.5063 million tonnes of oil and 4.2196 billion cubic meters of gas in the first ten months of the year, which is practically on target, the company's press service told Interfax. Production onshore in January - October amounted to 1.2564 million tonnes of oil (0.2%.under target and down 3% year-on-year), with offshore production of 6.2499 million tonnes of oil (0.3% over target 0.1% more than last year). Gas production at onshore deposits in the reporting period amounted to 188 million cubic meters '(0.2% over target and down 4.8% year-on-year), with offshore production of 4.0316 billion cubic meters (1.2% under target and down 5.8% year-on-year). In October this year SOCAR produced 768,600 tonnes of oil (0.2% over target) of which 130,200 tonnes were produced onshore (1% over target) and 638,400 tonnes offshore (on target). During the month, SOCAR produced 416.1 million cubic meters of gas (4.6%' below target), including 21.3 billion cubic meters on dry land (1.4% below target) and 394.8 million tonnes offshore (3.8% under target). Azerbaijani International Operating Company (AIOC, operator of the Azeri-Chirag-Gyuneshli offshore project) produced 50 million cubic meters of gas (49.5% under target) in October. In the first ten months of the year the company transferred 527.6 million cubic meters of gas to SOCAR, which was 65% of target and up 1.3%) year-on-year. ***** Hurricane Hydrocarbons Earns $109 Ml In Kazakhstan KAZAKHSTAN (Interfax). Canada's Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd. (HHL) posted a net profit of $108.7 million on its business in Kazakhstan in the first nine months of this year, compared to a loss of $7.8 million in the same period of 1999. The profits were fueled by high oil prices and rising sales volumes, HHL's Almaty office told Interfax. HHL holds an 88% stake in the Shnos refinery, and 89,5% of Hurricane Kumkol Munai (HKM), which is developing the Kumkol oil and gas field in southern Kazakhstan. HHL said it paid more than 19.2 billion tenge in taxes in the nine months, with HKM paying 9 billion and Shnos 10.2 billion tenge (142.65tenge/$l). HHL said it paid Kazakh producers 7.7 billion tenge for goods and services in the nine months. ***** Kazakhstan Raises Oil Production 5.5% KAZAKHSTAN (Interfax). Kazakhstan in the first ten months of 2000 produced 28.623 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate, 5.5% above plan and 16.1% more than in the same period of 1999. Interfax has learned that Kazakhstan also produced 7.136 billion cubic meters of gas, 6.9% above target and 24.2% more than in the same period of 1999. Subsidiaries of the national oil and gas company, Kazakhoil, in the period produced 4.909 million tonnes of oil, 5.9% above target and 5.8% above the first ten months of last year. The nine enterprises partly-owned by Kazakhoil in January - October produced 9.068 million tonnes of oil (-0.5%, +5.6%). Most of the oil was produced by the Tengizchevroil joint venture - 8.344 million tonnes (-0.3%, +4.1%). Other oil producers turned out 14.644 million tonnes of oil (+9.5%. +28.5%). In October alone, Kazakhstan produced 3.291 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate (3.4% above target). In October, Kazakhstan produced 815.051 million cu m of gas (4.2% below target). ***** Uzbek-Kazakh Talks About Gas, Debt ASTANA (Kazakh Khabar TV ). Supplying Uzbek gas to southern Kazakh regions was discussed in Tashkent today. Deputy Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov led Kazakhstan's government delegation in the talks with the Uzbek side. Abdez Rakhmanuly reports by telephone: [Correspondent] The meeting of the intergovernmental delegations was expected about three weeks ago, but it was delayed for unknown reasons. We learnt that the main issue was the supply of Uzbek gas to Kazakhstan's southern regions. Uzbekistan currently sells 1,000 m3 of gas for 35 dollars on the border. The Uztrans-gaz [Uzbek Gas Transport] company is going to increase the price by 15 dollars from the New Year. The delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov will try to keep the price down. So far it is not clear what will happen. Some experts think that Uzbekistan will not back down. The meeting will also discuss the Uzbek railways debt of 1,682,000 dollars to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy [Kazakhstan Railways]. The Uzbek Xalqaro-Telecom telecommunications operator also owes Kaztelecom over 4m dollars, a debt that it ran up over more than 18 months. ***** Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan Prefer Iranian Oil Export Route ASHGABAT (Turkmen Television channel 1). President Saparmyrat Turkmenhashy Niyazov of Turkmenistan today received the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Turkmenistan, Amangeldy Zhumabayev. [Reporter] The representative of the neighboring country conveyed to the Turkmen head an idea suggested by the Kazakh president [Nursultan Nazarbayev] - to hold a session of the joint political consultative council, which was set up at the initiative of the two presidents in April last year, during Nursultan Nazarbayev's visit to Turkmenistan. President Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy of Turkmenistan supported this idea, noting the comprehensive assessment of previous agreements that was needed in the light of current norms and legal enactments. A broad exchange of opinions with Nursultan Nazarbayev would encourage further co-operation between the friendly countries in bilateral and regional respects, Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy said. Concerning the agenda of the session of the consultative council, Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy mentioned the expansion of beneficial cooperation in the oil and gas sector, the delimitation of the state borders and the deepening of cultural ties. It is also planned to discuss issues in regional security and a draft convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea. On the delimitation of borders, Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy said that there was not a single point of disagreement between Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, so that the drafting of an agreement on the subject would not take too long. As a positive example, the recent border delimitation agreement signed with Uzbekistan was recalled. In turn, the Kazakh diplomat briefed the Turkmen leader, recalling his country's experience with its neighbors in this respect. When tackling the problems of cooperation in the oil and gas sector. Kazakhstan, like Turkmenistan, prefers multi-optional or multiversional solutions regarding the transportation of its fuel to world markets. Therefore, it is in the interests of both countries to concentrate their efforts, in particular, on the Iranian direction. Concerning the issue of mutual cultural relations, Zhumabayev thanked the Turkmen president. Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy, for his efforts in support of all initiatives in this area, particularly in providing a basic education for Kazakhs residing in border areas. Towards the end of the meeting, it was noted that the exact day of the session of the political council would be agreed later by the presidents over the telephone. Newspaper "The Times of Central Asia" November 16, 2000 ***** Kazakhstan's Oil Dividend Wise Leader - Prosperous Nation ASTANA (Transcaspian Project). After oil-rich Kazakhstan had gained independence, its future looked rather vague. The problem was not about Kazakh oil reserves, but about technologies, money, professionals and the political will. At that time, there was neither legislation nor financial institutions to assist the new democratic power in building a market economy. Yet, who is a wise leader? It is a person, who can see the main objective, concentrate resources and find the best ways. President Nazarbayev wanted to make Kazakhstan's oil the guarantor of his country's stability and prosperity for decades ahead. The most challenging task is not extracting oil but managing this oil. Nazarbayev held numerous personal meetings: with Russian leaders, in the West, South and East. Some negotiations ran smoothly, some resulted in tough debates over quotas, pipelines, sea division, priorities... Few know that back in Soviet times Nazarbayev persuaded Gorbachyov to 'let' Chevron into Kazakhstan, to get the right for conducting negotiations directly with company representatives. Chevron started with 1 million tonnes a year. Today it is producing 10 million, in the near future - 12 million, in 15 years - 70 million tonnes per annum. Chevron evaluated the potential of Tengiz oil deposit correctly and set up Tengizchevroil JV, which has brought $600 million to Kazakhstan's state budget in the current year and will bring $6 billion in 2015. Chevron's success inspired other partners and investors and convinced Kazakh citizens that foreigners could work on the republic's territory to both sides' mutual profit. Thousands of Kazakh citizens are now employed by Tengizchevroil and contracting agencies - having stable jobs and high salaries. New houses, hospitals and schools are erected all over the country, in regions that used to be deserted. Over $3 billion has been invested in oil project as to date. This is the lion's share of all direct foreign investments in the republic's economy. The oil and gas unicum Karachaganak is also developing. British Petroleum, Agip, Texaco and LUKoil are to invest $2.5 billion over the next two years, $400 million of this is going towards laying a pipeline from Karachaganak to Atyrau. There this mainline is to be linked with the pipeline of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. State revenues will grow from $ 100 million in the current year to $ 1.3 billion next year, providing thousands of Kazakh citizens with jobs. Many had considered Karachaganak a 'dead project.' President Nazarbayev managed to revive it and make it extremely profitable for Kazakhstan. The shelf has been unsealed. Now Kazakhstan expects to receive $500 million from that oil in 2006, and $5 billion in 2010. Three points of Nazarbayev's strategy have been realized, and the republic expects to be producing 200 million tonnes per annum in 15 years. Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is the fourth point of the strategy. Next July, the pipeline with an annual capacity of 68 million tonnes will be launched. Kazakhstan's initial pumping quota is 28 million tonnes per annum, and it will be growing in the future. This will enable Kazakhstan's population to sense the shrewd-ness of the President on their family income. Oil as such cannot bring prosperity. However, Kazakhstan has a chance to direct its oil flows into the national economy. And Nursultan Nazarbayev will not let his country miss this chance. ***** Ashgabat Ready to Sue Baku, Astana for Gas Debts ASTANA (Panorama). Turkmenistan can apply to the International Arbitration Court in connection with a US$116.7 million debt of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan for Turkmen natural gas delivered in 1993 and 1994 - or sell this debt to a third party, a Turkmen Government official has said. "Turkmenistan will take concrete measures towards its debtors, right up to starting an arbitration proceeding or selling the debt to a third party," he said. In his words, the Government of Turkmenistan has made this decision after consultations with international consulting companies. According to the Turkmen side, Azerbaijani debt for Turkmen natural gas delivered in 1993-94 and a debt on inter-bank settlements between the central banks of the two countries total US$58.9 million. According to the government official, in 1995, taking into account the difficult situation in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan rescheduled this debt. "However, over the past two years Azerbaijan's actions to repay the gas debt have not given a positive result," the official said. At the same time, Kazakhstan's debt for the delivery of Turken gas and electricity since 1994 has reached US$57.8 million. Turkmenistan's proposal to receive part of the debt in grain and part in hard currency has not been supported by Kazakhstan, the Turkmen official said. "Turkmenistan was ready for compromise. But the governments of these countries have not fulfilled signed agreements, which has brought all efforts to naught," said the official. In his words, the solution of this issue is of great importance for Turkmenistan because it has to service its own debts to foreign creditors. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's debt for Turken gas delivered until 1994 is US$18.724 million instead of US$33.79 million cited by Ashgabat, a source in the Azeri Government told TURAN news agency. The difference of US$15.246 million has appeared after Turkmenistan has added to the debt amount gas transportation expenses and fines. Azerbaijan thinks that this figure is incorrect because, according to their contract, Azerbaijan pays for gas on a barter basis. Meanwhile, Azeri First Deputy Prime Minister, Abbas Abbasov, told TURAN he does not have any official information on this issue. He also said that this was the first time Azerbaijan had been involved in such a situation. ***** Kazakh Ministry Against Kazakhoil Participation in Kherson Tender ASTANA (Interfax). The Kazakh Ministry for Energy, Industry and Trade does not consider it expedient for Kazakhoil to participate in a tender to acquire a packet of shares in Kherson Oil Refinery in Ukraine. This position was stated in a letter from the Ministry to Kazakh Prime Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev. "The volume of supplies to Kherson Oil Refinery and Kazakhoil's desire to invest in this company are not rationally based," the Ministry said. The document also contains the opinion of the State Revenue Ministry that what is being considered in this case "is more than likely re-export of crude and use of schemes to avoid taxes." Having analyzed information on supplies of Kazakh oil to Kherson Refinery from October 1999 to August 2000 and compared this with possible Kazakhoil revenue from the export of crude outside the CIS, through Odessa, the Energy Ministry reached the conclusion that the overlooked advantage to Kazakhoil in various months amounted to from $500,000 to $7 million, totaling over $50 million. The document also noted that supplies of oil on the Kazakh market, particularly to PavlodarOil Refinery, could be more profitable than supplies to Ukraine. Kazakhoil would have more profit from supplying crude to Pavlodar Refinery under mutual exchange than from supplying to Ukraine, the Ministry said. Moreover, utilization of capacity at Pavlodar Refinery would mean that a cat cracking unit could be installed, thereby increasing light prod-uct production and improving the economic attractiveness of supplying crude to the refinery. In connection with this the Ministry for Energy, Industry and Trade recommended that the government halt supplies of crude to Kherson Refinery from the start of this year, once an intergovernmental agreement on supplies of 1.2 million tonnes of crude to Ukraine had been fulfilled. Kyrgyzstan to Start Drilling BISHKEK (AKIPress). Next spring Kyrgyzstan will start prospecting at areas of possible oil and gas fields. Experts believe that Kyrgyzstan's part of the Fergana Valley has 100 million tons of oil. Another 400 million tons can be extracted in the Chui, Alai, Issyk-Kul, and At-Bashi valleys. This volume is quite enough to meet all needs of the country for oil products. However, the development of these fields requires hundreds of millions of dollars in investment. In Soviet times Kyrgyzstan did not even try to develop its own energy resources since Moscow provided for all of the country's fuel needs. After the breakup of the Soviet Union Kyrgyzstan has become strongly dependent on the import of fuel. As a result, the country spends most of its forex reserves on fuel. If Kyrgyzstan's relations with neighboring countries worsen, they will immediately switch off the oil and gas tap and stop Kyrgyz trains going through their territory. Caspian Oil News OKIOC COMPLETES SECOND IN TERVAL DRILLING AT KAZAKH OFFSHORE FIELD ASTANA (Interfax). OKIOC, the consortium conducting exploratory drilling in the Kazakh section of the Caspian Sea, has completed drilling the second interval of an oil well at West Kashagan, OKIOC manager Tako Verkruzen told reporters. The consortium will now conduct well logging and prepare for operations in the winter season, he said. Drilling of the third interval at the well, which contains a salt bed, will begin in about a week, Verkruzen said. OKIOC in early October began drilling a second exploration well to 4,800 meters and expects to complete it in May 2001. The well will have four intervals. TURKMENNEFT PRODUCES OVER 5.3 MILLION TONNES OF OIL, GAS CONUENSATE IN FIRST 10 MONTHS ASHGABAT (Interfax). Companies in the Turkmenistan state concern Turkmenneft in western Turkmenistan produced over 5.3 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate in the First 10 months of the year, which is 300,000 tonnes more than in the same period last year, a source in the company told Interfax. According to the source, the average daily level of oil production in the west of the country currently exceeds 20,000 tonnes. A large consignment of equipment, materials and special technology has arrived to implement investment projects included in a program for the development of the Turkmenistan oil and gas complex in 2000. KAZTRANSOIL PLACES $25 MLN IN INTERNAL BONDS ASTANA (Interfax). Kazakh national oil transportation company KazTransOil has placed a first bond issue amounting to $25 million of $30 million registered, thereby completing the placement of its planned issue for this year, director of the company's asset management department Almaz Irishev told Interfax. KazTransOil has announced that at the moment the company has received "totally sufficient" funds from the issue. Therefore, the company plans to place the remaining $5 million of the issue in 2001, Irishev said. Newspaper "The Times of Central Asia" November 23, 2000 |