Kazakhstan News Roundup - September 8, 2008

news roundup

Kazakhstan News Roundup - September 8, 2008

By SRI ⋅ September 8, 2008 ⋅

ENERGY:

Kazakhstan boosts oil production forecast
(SRI) - Energy officials in Astana are expecting to transport as much as 392 million barrels of oil per year through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

RWE to examine coal gasification in Kazakhstan
(Oil and Gas Journal) - RWE AG and Samruk, Kazakhstan’s state assets management holding company, will look at coal gasification and synthetic gas usage in northern and eastern Kazakhstan to unlock new energy sources in the country.

Third listing primed as exchanges woo Kazakhstan oil producer
(The Independent) - KazMunayGas Exploration Production (KMG EP), the London and Kazakh-listed oil company, is mulling a flotation on a third stock exchange.

Shut up, Borat - the tinderbox of Kazakhstan oil
(The Independent) - The gleaming towers of the capital city are monuments to black gold, but the Eurasian state is stuck in the middle between Western demand and keeping its Russian and Georgian neighbours sweet.

Paper looks at Kazakh plans to increase electricity generation in country
(BBC Monitoring - redOrbit) - Kazakhstan’s electricity production is increasing but consumption is also rapidly growing. As a result, there are rolling blackouts in the south of the country and Kazakh people are being constantly urged to save electricity and heat.

Oil and gas deposit discovered in Kazakh West - local TV
(BBC Monitoring - redOrbit) - A large oil and gas deposit has been found near the village of Petrov in Zelenov District of West Kazakhstan Region.

Kazakhstan ups oil and gas production (SRI)

New Tax Code has oil tax rates ranging from 7 to 20 percent (Interfax)

Rates of rent tax on crude oil and gas condensate exports to be between 7 and 32 percent depending on the global prices (Interfax)

All Kashagan problems solved: Kazakh PM (Kazinform)

Russia eyeing Oman’s stake in CPC (RBC News)

Kazakhstan to start construction of West-South gas pipeline in 2009 first half (Kazinform)

Kazakhstan joins WPC (Kazinform)

MINERAL RESOURCES:

New Tax Code sets 8 percent cooper tax and 15 percent uranium tax (Interfax)

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

Middle and Far East investors target Kazakhstan
(bne) - Picture Astana’s right bank in 2012. Alongside the Baiterek tower and the blue-domed presidential palace, there will be a new landmark: the Abu Dhabi Palace. This huge complex was inspired by Kazakhstan’s economic growth, designed by renowned British architect Norman Foster, and funded from the United Arab Emirates.

Kazakh cement manufacturer Steppe Cement lifts profits, fears tough conditions (ShareCast)

Russia to get tax privileges if investing to KZ non-primary sector: Premier (Kazinform)

Kazakh-Russian trade turnover to exceed $20 bln in 2008: PM (Kazinform)

Kazakhstan: Fears of aggravation of crisis
(Global Voices) - Although Kazakhstan, enjoying booming economy fueled by extractive industries, remains the leading state among Central Asian republics, the volatile situation in the country’s economy gives grounds for anxiety among bloggers.

Indicators - September 5, 2008 (Reuters)

POLITICS:

Can Nazarbayev help Kyrgyzstan escape Moscow’s pressure
(Eurasia Daily Monitor) - Nazarbayev gave hope to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and other Central Asian leaders to maintain a more balanced East-West policy in spite of Russian pressure.

SOCIETY:

Astana: The pleasure domes of a new Xanadu
(Telegraph) - On a visit to Astana, James Mackintosh is seduced by the audacity and extravagance of its modern architecture – and the vibrancy of its expatriate social whirl.

British school caters to children of Kazakh elite (Reuters)

REGIONAL:

Central Asia: Russia and United States intensify energy competition
(EurasiaNet) - A three-sided diplomatic scrum is intensifying in Central Asia, as US, Russian and Chinese officials are stepping up efforts to wring energy-export deals from regional leaders.

Nabucco backers remain composed
(Financial Times) - The backers of the Nabucco pipeline, an ambitious 3,300km scheme to ship gas from central Asia to Europe, remain confident the project is on track, in spite of the conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Cheney expresses US interest in Caspian region

(Oil and Gas Journal) - US Vice-President Dick Cheney met with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and later said that the US has a “deep and abiding interest” in the Caspian region’s stability and security.