News Roundup - January 3, 2008

Bloomberg: Max Petroleum Resumes Output at Zhana Makat Field in Kazakhstan

Max Petroleum Plc, the U.K. oil explorer that fired its chief executive officer in October, resumed production at a field in Kazakhstan after obtaining government approval for a gas plant and fuel flaring…

Bloomberg: Max Petroleum Appoints Mark L. Johnson as Chief Executive

Max Petroleum Plc, the London-based oil explorer that fired its chief executive officer in October, appointed Mark L. Johnson to the position…

Gazeta.KZ: A year of 2007 was for Kazakhstan the year of great achievements - Nursultan Nazarbayev

A year of 2007 was for Kazakhstan the year of great achievements, said in the New Year appeal to Kazakhstani people the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev…

Reuters: Kazakh inflation jumps to 18.8 pct in 2007

Kazakhstan’s consumer price inflation accelerated to 18.8 percent in December 2007 in year-on-year terms from 8.4 percent in December 2006, the State Statistic Agency said on Thursday…

United Press International: Analysis: An ‘07 Caspian energy scorecard

The year 2007 will be seen as a major turning point in the development of Caspian energy, perhaps the most significant 12 months since the 1991 collapse of communism opened up the possibilities of developing one of the world’s last great oil frontiers…

Forbes: Kazakhstan’s Tsesnabank’s long-term IDR affirmed at ‘B-’, outlook stable - Fitch

Fitch Ratings said it has affirmed Tsesnabank’s (TSB) long-term issuer default rating (IDR) at ‘B-’ with a stable outlook and short-term IDR at ‘B’…

Wall Street Journal: Transmeridian Agrees to Deal Valued at About $350 Million

Transmeridian Exploration Inc., which had been reviewed for a possible acquisition by Chinese oil companies, agreed to be acquired by its chief executive’s Trans Meridian International Inc. in a deal that values the energy company at $350 million…

Neweurasia.net: Two countries, two programs for repatriants

They could at least take the model of the current Kazakhstan’s program of oralmans (Kazakh term for repatriants) repatriation as a template. The state quota for oralmans is 15,000 families that makes up about 40-60 thousand persons…

Khaleej Times: KHC explores Kazakhstan investment opportunities

Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, received the Kazakhstani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Kairat Lama Sharif, at his office…

Reuters: Iran says won’t retreat on Caspian Sea share demand

Iran said on Monday it would not back down from its demand for a share of around 20 percent of the Caspian Sea, which boasts huge hydrocarbon reserves and valuable caviar stocks…