Archive for April 16th, 2008
Unsteady Equilibrium in the Oil Markets
From Biznes i Vlast:
The construction of the trans-Caspian pipeline across the bottom of the Caspian Sea is not a simple project. Kazakh oil destined for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BCT) is more likely to be shipped to Azerbaijan by tankers. This, at least, is the opinion of Mikhail Perfilov, director for development in CIS countries and the Baltics for Argus Media.
What, in your opinion, is the likelihood that the trans-Caspian pipeline Aktau-Baku will be constructed?
There have always been geopolitical considerations about the Caspian Sea. As oil becomes more and more expensive, the resource wars are becoming fiercer and fiercer. Every major oil-consuming country is trying to secure access to supplies. Therefore, in Kazakhstan, we are observing a rather difficult process of balancing the competing interests of China, Russia and the United States. Oil is an important geopolitical tool — a serious factor of influence. China is interested in having oil flow its way, Russia in the development of Kazakh oil transit through its territory. United States and Europe are interested in a route that bypasses Russia. And each of these countries tries in every possible way to establish transport routes more suitable to meet their own objectives. Today, Kazakhstan has routes that both bypass Russia - like the BTC pipeline, and go through Russia - the Atyrau-Samara and Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline. A pipeline to China is being built as well. Kazakhstan is conducting a smart policy of an independent producer, and the President and the government are pursuing the greatest possible diversification of Kazakhstan’s export options.
News Roundup - April 16, 2008
energy:
Kazakhstan supports China tapping Caspian oil and gas
(Reuters) - Kazakhstan will support China in developing oil and gas resources on the continental shelf of the Caspian Sea, a joint communique by the two governments showed on Tuesday, as the two seek closer ties…
NATO weighs protection of Kazakh oil facilities
(Eurasia Daily Monitor) - In comments so far reported only by the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Simmons reportedly told journalists that the alliance intended to include the joint protection of Kazakhstan’s energy infrastructure in its program of collaboration with Kazakhstan…
UPI reports that India may be planning to expand its presence in the Caspian and Central Asian energy market, particularly by obtaining some oil assets in Kazakhstan following Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari’s six-day official visit to the region…
Max Petroleum to drill 57 onshore wells in Kazakhstan to 2010
(Oil and GAs Eurasia) - UK-based upstream junior Max Petroleum said it plans to drill 57 onshore wells to evaluate 26 structures at its blocks A and E and Astrakhanskiy in Kazakhstan over the next three years…
mineral resources:
Mechel’s offer for Oriel gets anti-trust clearance in Russia, Kazakhstan
(Thomson Financial) - Mechel in March agreed to buy the London-based chrome and nickel mining company for about 109.97 pence a share, or about 749 million pounds…
business and investment:
Kazakhstan bans wheat exports until September
(Reuters) - Kazakhstan joined other Black Sea grain exporters in curbing shipments on Tuesday, suspending wheat exports until Sept. 1 to combat double-digit inflation in Central Asia’s largest economy…
Wheat closes unchanged after gaining on Kazakhstan export ban
(Bloomberg) - Wheat closed unchanged for a second day after rising on a report that Kazakhstan suspended exports of the grain to curb rising domestic bread prices…
Kazakh annual GDP growth slows in first quarter
(Reuters) - Kazakhstan’s annual economic growth slowed to 5.3 percent in the first quarter from 10.5 percent in the same period of last year, the economy minister said on Tuesday…
Inflation in Kazakhstan made 18.7 % in 1stQ 2008
(Kazinform) - The rate of inflation in Kazakhstan made 18.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2008 that is 10.6 per cent higher against the analogous period of the last year; Kazinform refers to the Kazakh Statistics Agency…
Unemployment drops to 6.9% in Kazakhstan, says Economy Ministry
(Interfax-Kazakhstan) – Unemployment in Kazakhstan dropped down to 6.9% of the economically active population in January-March 2008…
The government will not ease off banking sector’s regulation, says premier
(Interfax-Kazakhstan) – The government will not ease its regulation of the banking system in Kazakhstan, said Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov quoted by the government’s press service…
Economy crediting volume by second-tier banks lowered by 0.26% in 1st Q: B.Sultanov
(Kazinform) - Volume of economy financing by the second-tier banks in Kazakhstan has lowered by 0.26% in the 1st quarter of the current year. Kazakh Economy and Budget Planning Minister Bakhyt Sultanov has made it public today at the governmental session…
politics:
EU recommends Kazakhstan simplify tax laws
(Interfax-Kazakhstan) – European experts suggest that Kazakhstan simplifies its tax legislation, said Andriaan Van der Meer, head of the EC Delegation in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan…
(Kazakhstan Today) - Kazakhstan delegation will take part in the second session of research group of high level of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), which will be held in Seoul on April 17-18…
EU to allot EUR 3 mln for reforms advancement and Kazakhstan’s competitiveness increase
(Kazinform) - “The European Union will allocate EUR 3 mln for Assistance to development of strategic dialogue and consultation programs in Kazakhstan project”, Head of the European Commission’s Delegation Adriaan van der Meer has told of the project…
Caspian Sea summit opens in Tehran
(Alalam) Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki stressed that the Caspian Sea legal regime should be compiled in a way to meet expectations of people of all the five littoral states…
society:
In last Soviet outpost, space pioneers cling on
(AFP) - Visiting the Baikonur space cosmodrome deep in the steppes of Kazakhstan is like taking a trip back into Soviet times — and that’s just the way many here want it to stay…
regional news:
EU manoeuvring for non-Russian gas supplies
(EurActiv) - 10 billion cubic metres of natural gas are set to flow from Turkmenistan into EU markets as of next year, it emerged on Monday, and the EU may clinch a deal for Iraqi gas later on this week…
Central Asia unwilling to be left out
(Kommersant) - The European Union has reached its first success in negotiations with Central Asia states on natural gas supplies. Turkmenistan agreed to reserve 10 billion cubic meters of gas for the EU since 2009…
analysis:
Rating of Kazakhstan is negative
(Nezavisimaya Gazeta) - The problems Kazakhstan is encountering compel its leaders to recall the money stashed away against the rainy day. Analysts of the Risk Evaluation Group predict “mounting social tension in Kazakhstan in 2008 due to food price-rise and prices of tenements practically nobody can afford.”
