News Roundup - March 19, 2008

Reuters: Kazakhstan sees 70 pct gas price rise from 2009

Kazakh state energy company KazMunaiGas said on Tuesday its gas export prices were likely to rise by up to 70 percent from 2009 as part of a wider plan by Central Asian producers to charge Russia more for their supplies…

Forbes: MOL seeks assets in Kazakhstan as part of Oman Oil Co deal

Hungary’s MOL Nyrt may secure production and exploration assets in Kazakhstan as part of an asset swap deal with Oman Oil Co, according to an unsourced report by Energy Intelligence Group, cited by website Portfolio.hu…

Kazinform: KPO delivers outstanding performance in 2007

Karachaganak, one of Kazakhstan’s largest producing fields, delivered an outstanding performance in 2007, setting record levels of production and meeting a number of key milestones…

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty: Gazprom deal imperils hopes for trans-Caspian pipeline

A landmark deal reached this month between Russian gas giant Gazprom and three energy-rich Central Asian states is likely to usher in dramatically higher prices for countries reliant on Russia for their natural gas…

EurasiaNet: Turkmenistan: Playing the energy export field

Turkmenistan has selected a British firm to conduct an independent audit of its natural gas reserves. To date, speculation surrounding Ashgabat’s holdings has been a major factor driving the Caspian Basin energy development competition among the United States, European Union, China and Russia…

Interfax: Accounts frozen at Karachaganak Petroleum Operating - tax committee

The  accounts  of  Karachaganak Petroleum   Operating   (KPO),  which  is  developing  the  largest  gas condensate  field  in  Kazakhstan, have been under a freeze for the last several months, the deputy chairman of the tax committee for the Western Kazakhstan region, Aklima Kaidasheva said…