Kazakhstan News Roundup - July 17, 2008

news roundup

Kazakhstan News Roundup - July 17, 2008

By SRI ⋅ July 17, 2008 ⋅

energy:

Gas pipeline gigantism
(Asia Times) - Ground was broken in Kazakhstan last week for construction of that country’s segment of a natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China, set to be the longest and most expensive such pipeline in the world.

Kazakh oil and natural gas exports down in first five months of 2008
(SRI) - From January through May, Kazakhstan exported 25.2 million tons of oil and gas condensate, 2.4 percent less than in the same period last year.

Gazprom, KazMunaiGas discussed cooperation
(SRI) - Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and KazMunaiGas President Serik Burkitbaev met on Tuesday in Moscow to talk about cooperation in gas processing and transit.

Central Asian natural gas pipeline off after blast
(AP - Forbes) - Part of a pipeline carrying natural gas from energy-rich Central Asia to Russia has been shut down after being damaged by an explosion.

Kazakhstan eyeing stake in Burgas-Alexandroupolis project (RBC News)

Jupiter Energy secures $50m loan (The West Australian)

Kyrgyzstan starts to export electric power to Kazakhstan (Kazinform)

mineral resources:

Kazakh group quells reverse takeover talk
(Financial Times) - Kazakhmys, the UK-listed Kazakh copper producer, yesterday sought to keep its options open by stating it was “not currently contemplating” agreeing to a reverse takeover by Metalloinvest, the Russian iron ore and steel group.

Mittal’s business still under risk in Kazakhstan (neweurasia.net)

Batys SEC to develop new solid mineral fields in Aktobe oblast (Kazinform)

business and economy:

Raiffeisen to enter Kazakhstan
(SRI) - The Raiffeisen Banking Group will form a subsidiary bank in Kazakhstan, Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding announced.

UAE to invest in Kazakh agriculture
(Financial Times) - The United Arab Emirates is seeking to invest in agricultural projects in Kazakhstan as part of its efforts to secure food supplies.

Geerdink new head of ABN AMRO Kazakhstan (SRI)

National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates July 17, 2008 (Kazinform)

Indicators - July 16, 2008 (Reuters)

politics:

Another snag in the “Kazakhstan Triangle”: Did KazmunaiGas pay $2 million for Cheney’s visit to Astana? (Roberts Report)

Kazakhstan, China discussed issues on customs services coop (Kazinform)

Kazakh President invited to the UAE (Kazinform)

society:

PM charged Sport Ministry to prepare a bid for holding 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Kazakhstan (Kazinform)

regional news:

Russia’s Caspian Sea oil output could hit 271 mln bbls by 2023
(RIA Novosti) - Annual output in Russia’s sector of the Caspian Sea could reach 37 million metric tons (271 million barrels) of oil and 18 billion cubic meters of gas by 2023.