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Каспинфо август 2002 |
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Название: Маршруты транспортировки каспийских энергоресурсов на англ. языке Главные Пункты: * Окончательный вариант ОВОСС проекта БТД будет готов к концу августа и представлен на рассмотрение в Министерство Экологии Грузии, которое, как ожидается, вынеcет решение до конца сентября. * ВР начнет прокладку трубопроводов БТД и Баку-Эрзрум после окончания археологических раскопок в регионе прохождения трубопроводов. Раскопки проводятся за счет компании. * Грузинская газета <Резонанс> утверждает, что российские спецслужбы намеренно провоцируют межнациональные и религиозные конфликты на территориях, по которым проходят трубопроводы, выполняя таким образом план провала проектов. * Результаты международной независимой экспертизы проектов БТД и газопровода Баку-Эрзрум, которая проводилась в Грузии: - отсутствует доступ общественности к ключевым проектным документам; - в результате представления неадекватной и неполной информации о проекте местное население возлагает на трубопровод нереалистичные надежды; - до сих пор не ликвидированы негативные последствия реализации проекта Баку-Супса. * Председателем Совета директоров недавно созданной в Англии "Трубопроводной компании БТД" стал Президент ГНКАР, оператором проекта - компания ВР. * и др. сообщения. (08.08.2002) Полный Текст Маршруты транспортировки каспийских энергоресурсов на англ. языке Маршруты транспортировки каспийских энергоресурсов на англ. языке *** AZERBAIJAN: OIL PIPELINE PROJECT FALLS BEHIND SCHEDULE (Eurasianet July 21) Azerbaijan's key pipeline project has fallen behind schedule for approval, sparking speculation over possible reasons for the delay. On 17 July, Dow Jones Newswires reported that the final go-ahead for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean will be held up at least until 31 July because Italy's ENI oil company has no board meeting scheduled before then. Britain's BP oil company, the consortium leader for the project known as BTC, had previously predicted approval by the end of June. On 28 June, consortium spokeswoman Tamam Bayatly told the Interfax news agency that BP had given its blessing to the long-awaited project and other members of the group would follow in "the next few days." The group's top manager, Michael Townshend, then told Azerbaijan's ANS television that the approval "could well happen by mid-August," "Caspian Business News" reported. Townshend added that this "is not necessarily a precise date." Although BP owns 38 percent of the venture and ENI recently took a 5 percent share, all nine members must make final commitments before the 1,730-kilometer project can officially begin. Townshend continued to voice confidence in the outcome, saying that all the main contractors for the project are expected to be chosen in the next six weeks. A few weeks one way or the other will not make much of a difference on a project that has been planned and debated for years. But delays are bound to raise questions among BTC skeptics, who have argued just as long over the commercial and political issues behind the U.S.-backed line. According to Dow Jones, an ENI spokeswoman has denied rumors that the company wants to withdraw its sponsorship. ENI was a late entrant to the consortium last November and was also recently rumored to be seeking an increase in its interest to 10 percent. The company has said little, making it hard to know which rumor to believe. The maneuvering seems to be related to ENI's interests in Kazakhstan, where its Agip subsidiary is the operator of the project to develop the Kashagan oil field, one of the world's largest finds in the past 20 years. ENI has hedged its bets on exporting from Kashagan by buying a share in the BTC route, even though backers insist that the line will be profitable with Azerbaijani oil alone. The pipeline's capacity is 1 million barrels per day. But U.S. government supporters of BTC have cast their eyes across the Caspian for years in the pursuit of an energy corridor through the Caucasus that would include Central Asian oil. Kazakh officials including President Nursultan Nazarbaev have also spoken periodically about renaming the project the "Aktau-Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan" line, with the idea of barging oil from Kazakhstan's Caspian port of Aktau. Over the years, the signals on Kazakh participation have been hard to read because they have been inconsistent. In November 1999, Nazarbaev made a pledge to ship oil through the BTC line during a security summit in Istanbul, but he later backtracked, complaining that the promise was made under pressure. At times, he has promoted the Aktau idea. At still other times, Kazakh officials have said the choice is up to the oil companies, not the government. Ironically, two of the most recent members in the BTC consortium -- ENI and France's TotalFinaElf -- have explored a pipeline route from Kazakhstan through Iran, an option that Washington has strongly opposed. The export question has been dragging on for so long that it may not be finally settled until BTC is actually built. In the meantime, the final word on BTC has been hard to pin down. This week, "Caspian Business News" quoted Townshend as saying that the estimated cost of the pipeline has crept up to $2.95 billion. The increase of $75 million is a slight one from previous estimates of $2.875 billion. But two years ago, backers worked hard to deny reports that the project would rise above the psychological ceiling of $3 billion. At the 1999 summit, officials used the figure of $2.4 billion. The pipeline tariff, or the cost of shipping oil, has also risen to "just over $3.30 a barrel" for BTC shareholders. Other shippers will have to pay more. Followers of the project over the years will remember that the target tariff was $2.58. Turkey's two-month-old government crisis has also lent an air of uncertainty to its ability to build its part of the project. But so far, there have been no public signs of second thoughts about a project that has been a strategic goal for both Ankara and Azerbaijan. Final questions of financing also remain to be settled. The consortium members plan to borrow $2 billion, but specifics are still murky. For over a year, reports have suggested that the World Bank would lend $500 million. But Townshend said, "They haven't yet told us exactly how much they are willing to lend." Details on private lending have been unavailable. Yet for all the questions, there seem to be none about whether some of the world's biggest oil companies will be able to raise money for the pipeline, which is still expected to be built by 2005. Most analysts believe that the project has had so much support that it will overcome the remaining hurdles, sooner or later. After years of planning and preparation, a decision against building the line would be far bigger news than a decision to go ahead. MDBNews CIS Week 29-02 *** EXPERTS DISCUSS CAUCASUS PIPELINE PROJECTS Georgian experts are discussing the ESIA documents of the South Caucasus pipeline projects. The final ESIA report will be ready by the end of August and submitted for the consideration to the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry of Environment is expected to study proposed materials till the end of September. In order to start construction of the pipeline it is necessary that the MoE grants permit on ESIA. According to the schedule of the investor, the pipeline constructions are planned to be implemented in 2003 and to be finished by the end of 2004. The gas pipeline is planned to be launched in 2004 and it is intended to be finished in 2005. 46 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News CENN *** BP FINANCES ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS Archeological excavations in Atskuri located in the Akhaltsikhe region will be started in July. These archeological excavations will be financed by oil company bp, which will commence construction of the Baku-Ceyhan and Baku-Erzrum pipelines in this region after the excavation works. The Georgian Messenger July 2, 2002 46 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News CENN *** BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN ENTERED NEW PHASE Implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project has reached a new phase, said President Shevardnadze at the meeting with David Woodward, President of the Company bp- Azerbaijan. According to Woodward, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline project is being successfully implemented. Technical and commercial operations have already been completed and the construction of the pipeline will commence in three-month period. David Woodward added that bp would assist Georgia to solve energy problems in winter. President Shevardnadze expressed his gratitude to David Woodward for his support. The Georgian Messenger July 3, 2002 46 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News CENN *** EXPERTS GIVE HIGH EVALUATION TO BAKU-CEYHAN PROJECT According to the Azeri State Oil Company, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Project is profitable and competitive. Representative of the administration mentioned that for the Project feasibility valuation, different factors should be studied. According to the company's experts, in the evaluation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main Project, all these factors are taken into consideration." They think that this project will be the most attractive in the Caspian region. Resonance July 12, 2002 46 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News CENN *** /17:11 29.07.2002/ Russia tries to defeat Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline construction, Georgian daily writes Tbilisi, July 29, 2002. (CNA). The Russian special services have developed a special program to defeat the project of the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil pipeline construction. As the Georgian "Rezonansi" newspaper states, Moscow plans to inspire a new inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflict in those regions of Georgia in territories of which the oil pipeline will be constructed. According to the article, first of all the matter concerns the Tsalk region in the south of Georgia populated mainly by Armenian and Greeks. This issue was recently discussed at the Georgian parliament meeting. According to the deputy - the Tsalk region representative Vitaly Aydinov, agitating the Armenian population, a Russian citizen Sergey Zurnachian collects the signatures against the oil pipeline construction. The newspaper states that according to Aydinov, Zurnachian is fulfilling a special task of the Russian government. Taking into consideration the current situation, the Georgian leadership has placed its internal forces units in the Tsalk region, evoking the negative response of the population of the region, Panarmenian.net reports. CNA/www.caspian.ru *** CEE Bankwatch Network Friends of the Earth-US FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2002 The Facts Speak for Themselves: What's Wrong with British Petroleum's Proposed Caucasus Pipeline Tbilisi, 31 July, 2002 --- Today six national and international non- governmental organisations (Green Alternative, CEE Bankwatch Network, Reform the World Reform Campaign, Platform, Friends of the Earth-US, Bank Information Center) released the preliminary report from an international and independent fact-finding mission that visited Georgia from June 10-13, 2002. The purpose of the mission was to survey villages that will be affected by the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey (AGT) pipeline project which consists of two pipelines laid along the same 44- meter-wide corridor: the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline (BTC) and the South Caucasus gas Pipeline (SCP), running from an expanded terminal at Sangachal on the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan, through Georgia to the Georgia-Turkey border. While BP and other project sponsors try to represent these two projects separately, with independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) studies, the fact-finding mission considers the two pipelines in Georgia one single project named AGT. The mission carried out its survey in the context of the information and data contained in the ESIA studies produced by the project sponsors for the AGT project, with the goal of assessing the project's direct and indirect social and environmental impacts in Georgia. The mission detected problems with the project at a general institutional level, as well as finding specific local impact concerns. Local attitudes toward the project differed significantly between the eastern section of the pipeline route, where communities have recently been affected by the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline (built 1997 to 1999), and the central and western sections of the route, where communities have not yet experienced an international oil project. The findings of the field visit conducted by this fact finding mission (FFM) led us to conclude that the current conditions do not justify further development of the AGT project. There are serious problems and unresolved issues in several key areas: · The institutional framework of the project is unclear. The responsibilities of district and local administrations are not clearly defined, and trust in government is weak, as is the institutional capacity to manage the development process. The complex arrangements for local, district and national government involvement has exacerbated tensions and mistrust, and leaves communities confused as to from whom they should seek social commitments, project monitoring, dispute settlement or possible redress. · The provision of information is inadequate. Crucial documents such as the Host Government Agreements (HGAs) have in practice not been made public - or even disclosed to many parts of the government. Many communities have been given no information, or have only received a non-objective project assessment from the company. Information that is supposed to be publicly available is not available in practice. · Inadequate and inconsistent information about the project has led to local community expectations which are often unrealistic - especially in the case of the number of local jobs that will be provided. · A clear and transparent framework for land compensation has not been articulated. · Negative outcomes of the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline project remain unaddressed. Roads and other local infrastructure that were damaged have still not been repaired. Employment opportunities proved disappointing, and expectations and companies' promises for social programs were unmet. · Along the proposed route's central and western section, project-affected people generally lack enough information to form a well-considered opinion about the project. Many affected people are not even sure of the exact pipeline route, nor have landowners been provided with clear information about compensation. Expected employment figures are vague, feeding rumours and false expectations. · The companies' baseline survey of the Borjomi district is wholly inadequate and must be conducted fully before the project proceeds further. There is currently no basis for a "no net loss" judgement on the impact of pipeline operations on both natural areas and the mineral water industry. The extremely sensitive nature of the AGT project requires as thorough, objective, and detailed survey and assessment as are practically possible. In the FFM's judgement, this has not occurred, nor have outstanding grievances been redressed. Addressing outstanding concerns and establishing a clear basis and sanction for future action are prerequisites for any further development of this project. The fact-finding mission's report can be found at: www.bankwatch.org/downloads/pipelines-factfinding-georgia.pdf for further information, please contact: Manana Kochladze - CEE Bankwatch tel: +99532 22 33 47 manana@wanex.net Carol Welch - FOE US tel: +1 202 783 7400 CWelch@foe.org *** State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan participates in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan fund The State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) is to provide part of the funding required for the construction of the Main Export Pipeline from Baku over Georgian territory to the Turkish Mediterranian port of Ceyhan. The decision follows President Heydar Aliyev's Decree of July 31, which authorizes the use of financial reserves under the responsibility of SOFAZ for investment in the pipeline. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), through a new affiliated company Azerbaijan (BTC) Co Ltd, is to hold a 25 percent share in the oil pipeline consortium. The consortium intends to provide up to 30 percent of the project cost through equity contributions of the participants including BP, SOCAR, Statoil, Yunocal, Itochu, ENI, Total Fina Elf, TPAO, Delta Hess and to raize the remaining 70 percent from international financial institutions, export credit agencies and private banks. SOFAZ will contribute around 80 % of SOCAR's equity commitment to the project by means of equity investment in Azerbaijan BTC Co. The establishment of SOFAZ by Presidential Decree dated December 29, 2000 was intended to provide an important control mechanism over the preservation and use of revenues from the exploitation of the country's natural energy resources and to channel them to facilitate sound economic development. This strategy includes using the fund to finance infrastructure projects of paramount national importance. The partial funding of SOCAR's share in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil export pipeline is central to the mandate given to SOFAZ. This pipeline is a vital element in the further development of the Contract of the Century (first production sharing agreement of Azerbaijan after regaining independence in 1991), signed in 1994 with a number of multinational oil companies, and will be key in facilitating the generation of substantial income for the Republic> of Azerbaijan. This in turn will enable the Fund to achieve its important longer-term objectives. source. .http://www.oilfund.az/ ================================ Petr Hlobil International Oil and Climate Coordinator CEE Bankwatch Network Kratka 26, Praha 10, 100 00, Czech Republic Tel.+fax: 420-2-7481 65 71 http://www.bankwatch.org CENN INFO Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) *** Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan Pipeline Company Formed 1st August 2002 Today in London, the BTC Owners signed the documents which formally create "The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Company" ("BTC Co"). The document signing process was witnessed by representatives from each of the BTC Host Governments of the Azerbaijan Republic, Georgia, and the Republic of Turkey. This is an important step forward in the realisation of the pipeline which will export crude oil 1,760 kilometres from Azerbaijan and the Caspian region, through Georgia, to Ceyhan on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Each of the BTC Owners is now a shareholder in BTC Co, the company which will construct, own and operate the pipeline. The formation of BTC Co is an important and necessary step which will enable the owners to enter the full construction phase once the BTC Co Board of Directors has been assured of the completion of the few remaining pre-construction activities. The President of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic ("SOCAR") is chairman of the BTC Co Board of Directors and BP is the operator of the project. The BTC Co Shareholders are currently: BP (38.21%); SOCAR (25.00%); Statoil (9.58%); Unocal (8.90%); TPAO (7.55%); Eni (5%); Itochu (3.40%); and Amerada Hess (2.36%). In addition, TotalFinaElf has acquired the right to purchase a 5% interest in BTC Co; this transaction will be finalised soon. The BTC Co Board of Directors has today announced its decision to award the initial contracts for the construction phase - for pipelay in Azerbaijan to Consolidated Contractors International Company (Greece) and for pipelay in Georgia and facilities in both countries to a Spie Capag (France) led joint venture with Petrofac (US). The tender list was approved in late 2001 by all of the BTC partners and the bid evaluation was carried out by the BP project team. The contracts are awarded on a lump sum basis. Bechtel (US) will continue as the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management services contractor. BOTAS, the Turkish state pipeline company, will continue as the Lump Sum Turnkey contractor for the Turkish section of the pipeline. The project remains on schedule to be completed in time for first oil from the Phase 1 development of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli oil field, which is planned for early 2005. At the London meeting the BTC Co Board welcomed the Presidential Decree and other relevant decisions issued by the President of the Azerbaijan Republic concerning SOCAR's participation and equity interest funding for the project. Note to Editors: Information on the BTC project and other major Caspian Sea developments, including the full Environmental and Social Impact Assessments is available on the website: http://www.caspiandevelopmentandexport.com/ For further information please contact: Tamam Bayatly, BP Press Office, Baku Telephone: (+994 12) 979 732 Telefax: (+994 12) 979 602 |