Archive for July 7th, 2008
ANALYSIS: M&A Kazakh style
The merger and acquisition processes have become more dynamic in Kazakhstan and have shown significant changes in terms of both quality and quantity over the past year. The trend is an important indication of the development of sectoral markets and is a reflection of the current processes.
BAK introduces new general director
Bogatyr Access Komir (BAK), the largest coal mining group in Kazakhstan, introduced Viktor Shukin as the new general director, the company announced on Friday. Prior to this appointment, Shukin served as Director for Coal Business at the United Company Russian Aluminum (UC RUSAL). Shukin took over from Sergei Opanasenko who was appointed BAK managing director.
Kazakhstan News Roundup - July 7, 2008
energy:
Kazakhstan hits back at Exxon over Kashagan statements
(SRI) - The Kazakh government renounced the claims of Exxon Mobil’s CEO that it was intentionally delaying the development of the Kashagan oilfield.
Kazakhstan eyes Oman’s CPC stake-industry official
(Reuters) - Kazakhstan is interested in buying Oman’s 7 percent stake in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) should the Middle Eastern state decide to sell out, an influential oil industry group official said on Friday.
Asian Gas Pipeline to raise at least $6 billion by September 2008
(SRI) - Asia Gas Pipeline, the operator of the Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline, plans to raise at least $6 billion in loans by this summer, Interfax reported.
StatoilHydro rejects Kazakh bribe lawsuit
(Reuters) - Norwegian oil and gas producer StatoilHydro rejected accusations, made in a U.S. lawsuit, that it had bribed officials in Kazakhstan.
KazMunaiGas $2.5 bln loan oversubscribed
(Reuters) - Kazakhstan oil and gas company KazMunaiGas’s unsecured $2.5 billion, three-year syndicated loan is oversubscribed ahead of closing.
Far-reaching goals set for Russian-Kazakh gas plant (RosBusinessConsulting)
mineral resources:
ENRC happy with Q3 ferrochrome price rise (Reuters - Forbes)
business and economy:
Vimpelcom ups stake in Kazakh operator
(SRI) - Russia’s second-largest mobile phone operator Vimpelcom said it had paid $561.8 million for a 25 percent stake in Kazakhstan’s carrier Kar-Tel, bringing its ownership stake to 75 percent.
Kazakhstan to halve corporate tax rate
(SRI) - Kazakhstan may halve the corporate income tax rate to 15 percent while introducing a tax of up to 20 percent that will apply only to the oil and mining sectors.
Kazakhstan: 2008 harvest forecasts
(Kazinform) - Anna Buts, Head of the Farming Department of the Kazakh Agriculture Ministry, announced that Kazakhstan expects to crop 16-17 million tons of grain in 2008.
Financier not worried about asset quality but concerned with interest rates (SRI)
BTA Bank stands first in Kazakhstan (The Financial)
Fitch affirms Kazkommertsbank at ‘BB+’; downward pressure on ‘C/D’ individual rating (Kazinform)
Tourism and Sport Ministry attracts American company to construction of tourist center in Kapshagai (Kazinform)
USD 7 bln invested in Astana’s development for 10 years: N.Nazarbayev (Kazinform)
Kazakh business plays important role in Moscow development: Y.Luzhkov (Kazinform)
National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates July 5-8 2008 (Kazinform)
Indicators - July 4, 2008 (Reuters)
politics:
Two U.S. congressmen think Kazakhstan’s president deserves a nobel piece prize (EurasiaNet)
Kazakhstan is Russia’s strategic partner – Medvedev (Itar-Tass)
Kazakhstan against a consolidated navy in the Caspian sea (Interfax)
society:
Kazakhstan celebrates its capital’s 10th anniversary
(AP - IHT) - Kazakhs flocked Sunday to gleaming, grandiose - and isolated - Astana to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the city’s designation as the capital of the vast Central Asian nation.
City of extravagance gleams in Kazakh steppe
(Reuters) - If there is one thing Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev cherishes as part of his legacy, it is the gold-plated extravagance of his new capital, Astana.
Astana: Eurasia’s new marvel (Kazinform)
Key facts about Kazakh capital Astana (Reuters)
Key facts about Kazakhstan (Reuters)
Man with suspected anthrax dies in Kazakhstan (RIA Novosti)
regional news:
Russian president in Turkmenistan to consolidate Kremlin’s grip on Central Asian energy
(AP - IHT) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday underlined the need to quickly build a prospective gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to European markets via Russia, a move that would consolidate Moscow’s monopoly on energy transit from Central Asia.
Medvedev tours energy-rich Caspian region (UPI)
Russia anticipates no problems with Caspian pipeline project (Interfax - redOrbit)
Turkmenistan isn’t going to join Nabucco project (Itar-Tass)
Kazakhstan Regional News Roundup - July 7, 2008
Russian president in Turkmenistan to consolidate Kremlin’s grip on Central Asian energy
(AP - IHT) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday underlined the need to quickly build a prospective gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to European markets via Russia, a move that would consolidate Moscow’s monopoly on energy transit from Central Asia.
Medvedev tours energy-rich Caspian region (UPI)
Russia anticipates no problems with Caspian pipeline project (Interfax - redOrbit)
Turkmenistan isn’t going to join Nabucco project (Itar-Tass)
Kazakhstan Society Roundup - July 7, 2008
Kazakhstan celebrates its capital’s 10th anniversary
(AP - IHT) - Kazakhs flocked Sunday to gleaming, grandiose - and isolated - Astana to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the city’s designation as the capital of the vast Central Asian nation.
City of extravagance gleams in Kazakh steppe
(Reuters) - If there is one thing Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev cherishes as part of his legacy, it is the gold-plated extravagance of his new capital, Astana.
Astana: Eurasia’s new marvel (Kazinform)
Key facts about Kazakh capital Astana (Reuters)
Key facts about Kazakhstan (Reuters)
Man with suspected anthrax dies in Kazakhstan (RIA Novosti)
Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 7, 2008
Two U.S. congressmen think Kazakhstan’s president deserves a nobel piece prize (EurasiaNet)
Kazakhstan is Russia’s strategic partner – Medvedev (Itar-Tass)
Kazakhstan against a consolidated navy in the Caspian sea (Interfax)
Vimpelcom ups stake in Kazakh operator
Russia’s second-largest mobile phone operator Vimpelcom said it had paid $561.8 million for a 25 percent stake in Kazakhstan’s carrier Kar-Tel, bringing its ownership stake to 75 percent.
Kazakhstan Business and Economy Roundup - July 7, 2008
Kazakhstan: 2008 harvest forecasts
(Kazinform) - Anna Buts, Head of the Farming Department of the Kazakh Agriculture Ministry, announced that Kazakhstan expects to crop 16-17 million tons of grain in 2008.
Financier not worried about asset quality but concerned with interest rates (SRI)
BTA Bank stands first in Kazakhstan (The Financial)
Fitch affirms Kazkommertsbank at ‘BB+’; downward pressure on ‘C/D’ individual rating (Kazinform)
Tourism and Sport Ministry attracts American company to construction of tourist center in Kapshagai (Kazinform)
USD 7 bln invested in Astana’s development for 10 years: N.Nazarbayev (Kazinform)
Kazakh business plays important role in Moscow development: Y.Luzhkov (Kazinform)
National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates July 5-8 2008 (Kazinform)
Indicators - July 4, 2008 (Reuters)
Kazakhstan Mineral Resources Roundup - July 7, 2008
ENRC happy with Q3 ferrochrome price rise (Reuters - Forbes)
Kazakhstan hits back at Exxon over Kashagan statements
The Kazakh government renounced the claims of Exxon Mobil’s CEO that it was intentionally delaying the development of the Kashagan oilfield, Kazakhstan’s ministry of energy and mineral resources said on Friday according to Reuters.
