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Post by medo on Jan 18, 2008 14:38:13 GMT -5
Russia, Bulgaria sign South Stream gas pipeline dealSOFIA, January 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Bulgaria signed a $15 billion deal on Friday to build the South Stream natural gas pipeline, which is set to give Russia greater control over supplies to southern Europe. The pipeline proposed by Russia's Gazprom and Italy's Eni is a rival project to the Nabucco pipeline backed by the European Union and United States, which will pump Central Asian gas to Europe via Turkey bypassing Russia. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller confirmed on Friday that Bulgaria would hold a 50% stake in a joint venture that will operate the South Stream pipeline across the Balkan state's territory. Earlier reports said Bulgaria was seeking a majority stake in the pipeline. "The ownership structure problem has been solved. It will be 50-50," Miller told reporters, adding that the pipeline will come on stream in 2013. The contract was signed as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's official visit to Sofia. Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said earlier on Friday the two countries had managed to settle differences over the project at talks late on Thursday, when Putin arrived in the country. Putin was accompanied to Bulgaria by a host of government officials including First Deputy Prime Minister and Gazprom board chairman Dmitry Medvedev, who is widely expected to assume the presidency in spring. The South Stream pipeline will run from Russia's Black Sea coast under the sea to Bulgaria, where it will branch off to different destinations in the European Union, supplying 30 billion cu m of gas annually. Possible routes for the land section are still under discussion. Putin told a news conference in Sofia that Gazprom and Eni had registered a joint venture to build South Stream's underwater section. "A new company was registered today by Gazprom and Eni, which will carry out design work and build the underwater section of the South Stream gas pipeline," he said. Other energy deals signed during Putin's visit to Russia's former Communist ally and now EU member include an agreement to set up a company to oversee the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, which would involve the two countries and Greece. The three nations signed a deal in March 2007 to lay down a pipeline to carry 35-50 million metric tons of Russian crude annually (257-367 million bbl), via the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Burgas and Greece's Alexandroupolis on the Aegean, as an alternative route to bypass the congested Bosporus. Under the deal, Russia will have a 51% stake in the pipeline project and Greece and Bulgaria will hold 24.5% each. The countries also signed on Friday a $6 billion contract on the Belene nuclear power plant in Bulgaria to be built by Russian contractor Atomstroyexport. Russia's new oil and gas pipeline projects have triggered concerns in Europe over its growing dependence on Moscow. However, Putin highlighted the projects' international importance. "We are positive that their successful implementation will bring tangible economic dividends [to the countries involved], as well as raise energy security of the Balkans and Europe as a whole." Russia's other agreements with Bulgaria signed on the sidelines of Putin's visit were an understanding on cooperation in tourism, a deal to build a train ferry system linking Russia's Kavkaz port in the Kerch Strait to Bulgaria's Varna port to facilitate cargo movement, and a series of cultural agreements. en.rian.ru/world/20080118/97279065.html
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Post by medo on Jan 18, 2008 14:43:46 GMT -5
This news made my day, especially because a day before a high ranking US government official warned Bulgaria against signing this and nuclear power plant deals with Russia.
Bravo Mr. Putin!
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Post by CHORNYVOLK on Jan 18, 2008 18:19:00 GMT -5
EU warns Serbs on Russia gas deal By Paul Kirby EU reporter, BBC News The European Commission has voiced concern about the controversial takeover of Serbia's oil monopoly by the Russian energy giant Gazprom. Russia's state-run gas company has offered 400m euros (�300m) for a majority stake in NIS and Belgrade could agree to the deal this month. But some estimates suggest NIS's value is far higher and a number of European companies have expressed interest. The commission says the sale of Gazprom should be open and transparent. Spokeswoman Krisztina Nagy said: "The commission hopes that the sale of an important asset such as the Serbian oil company will be open and driven by objective, commercial and economic interests." EU membership bid The sale of NIS has become caught up in Serbia's progress towards joining the European Union, which could also move forward this month. We simply have no alternatives - Gazprom's proposal includes security of supply and this is very important to Serbia Dejan Stojadinovic Serbian energy ministry The EU has told Belgrade that a pre-entry agreement, initialled in November 2007, could be signed if Serbia co-operates more fully with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. But Serbian media reports suggest Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica will insist on the Gazprom deal going through as a condition for signing. He has already warned the EU that Belgrade will halt membership talks if Brussels goes ahead with its plans for a civilian mission to Kosovo, whose leaders want independence from Serbia. 'Political motives' Some analysts have said the NIS sell-off to Moscow might be politically motivated. In return for Serbia's main oil company, they suggest that Russia would provide support on Kosovo and Belgrade would move away from the EU. The commission will not speculate on the reason for the deal, although it is keen to stress that Belgrade should be prompted by "objective" interests. The Serbian energy and mining ministry says the motivation is not political, but based purely on a need for a secure supply of gas. A dispute between Gazprom and Ukraine in January 2006 led to an interruption in gas supplies to Western and Central Europe, including Serbia. That crisis highlighted energy security as a pressing issue across Europe, and for Serbia in particular, because it relies on Russia for 91% of its gas. The EU depends on Gazprom for a quarter of member states' supplies. Pipeline offer For Belgrade, the most tempting aspect of the Gazprom offer is the prospect of a reliable source of gas. Unlike its European competitors, Gazprom has linked its offer for NIS to an extension of its South Stream pipeline into Serbia. A ministry spokesman, Dejan Stojadinovic, said Belgrade was acting out of necessity. "We simply have no alternatives," he said. "Gazprom's proposal includes security of supply and this is very important to Serbia. We have no possible supply from Algeria or Norway, which are supply points for the rest of Europe." Another Serbian official said the deal with Gazprom could be signed on 28 January, but the energy ministry insisted there was no deadline. Story from BBC NEWS: news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7181220.stm |
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Post by medo on Jan 18, 2008 16:36:55 GMT -5
Russia, Bulgaria sign $5.9 billion nuclear power plant deal
SOFIA, January 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's state-owned nuclear equipment monopoly Atomstroyexport signed a 3.9 billion euro ($5.9 billion) contract in Bulgaria on Friday to build a nuclear power plant in the north of the Balkan state. The deal with Bulgaria's National Electric Company was signed during a visit to Bulgaria by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Atomstroyexport, which won a tender for the project in 2006, is to build two 1,000 MW reactors in Belene, with the first expected to be commissioned in late 2013 and the second in 2014. The planned nuclear power plant at Belene will be Bulgaria's second. President Putin said Russia was ready to grant Bulgaria a 3.8 billion euro ($5.6 billion) loan for the construction of the Belene nuclear power plant. "A total of 3.8 billion euros is envisioned in the Russian budget to implement plans to build the nuclear power plant. If necessary, we are ready to provide a loan to Bulgaria," Putin said. The head of the Russian Federal Agency for Nuclear Power said the number of power units at the nuclear power plant could be increased to four. "We understand that it is unreasonable to have the Belene nuclear power plant construction confined only to power generating units. This will be the first stage [of construction], which, if successful, will be followed by the third and the fourth units," Sergei Kiriyenko told journalists in Sofia. en.rian.ru/world/20080118/97284859.html
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Post by CHORNYVOLK on Jan 18, 2008 18:18:15 GMT -5
EU warns Serbs on Russia gas deal By Paul Kirby EU reporter, BBC News The European Commission has voiced concern about the controversial takeover of Serbia's oil monopoly by the Russian energy giant Gazprom. Russia's state-run gas company has offered 400m euros (�300m) for a majority stake in NIS and Belgrade could agree to the deal this month. But some estimates suggest NIS's value is far higher and a number of European companies have expressed interest. The commission says the sale of Gazprom should be open and transparent. Spokeswoman Krisztina Nagy said: "The commission hopes that the sale of an important asset such as the Serbian oil company will be open and driven by objective, commercial and economic interests." EU membership bid The sale of NIS has become caught up in Serbia's progress towards joining the European Union, which could also move forward this month. We simply have no alternatives - Gazprom's proposal includes security of supply and this is very important to Serbia Dejan Stojadinovic Serbian energy ministry The EU has told Belgrade that a pre-entry agreement, initialled in November 2007, could be signed if Serbia co-operates more fully with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. But Serbian media reports suggest Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica will insist on the Gazprom deal going through as a condition for signing. He has already warned the EU that Belgrade will halt membership talks if Brussels goes ahead with its plans for a civilian mission to Kosovo, whose leaders want independence from Serbia. 'Political motives' Some analysts have said the NIS sell-off to Moscow might be politically motivated. In return for Serbia's main oil company, they suggest that Russia would provide support on Kosovo and Belgrade would move away from the EU. The commission will not speculate on the reason for the deal, although it is keen to stress that Belgrade should be prompted by "objective" interests. The Serbian energy and mining ministry says the motivation is not political, but based purely on a need for a secure supply of gas. A dispute between Gazprom and Ukraine in January 2006 led to an interruption in gas supplies to Western and Central Europe, including Serbia. That crisis highlighted energy security as a pressing issue across Europe, and for Serbia in particular, because it relies on Russia for 91% of its gas. The EU depends on Gazprom for a quarter of member states' supplies. Pipeline offer For Belgrade, the most tempting aspect of the Gazprom offer is the prospect of a reliable source of gas. Unlike its European competitors, Gazprom has linked its offer for NIS to an extension of its South Stream pipeline into Serbia. A ministry spokesman, Dejan Stojadinovic, said Belgrade was acting out of necessity. "We simply have no alternatives," he said. "Gazprom's proposal includes security of supply and this is very important to Serbia. We have no possible supply from Algeria or Norway, which are supply points for the rest of Europe." Another Serbian official said the deal with Gazprom could be signed on 28 January, but the energy ministry insisted there was no deadline. Story from BBC NEWS: news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7181220.stm |
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Post by White Cossack on Jan 18, 2008 18:45:28 GMT -5
Who do they think they are? Serbians sell their companies to who they want.
Can't wait to see west Europe falling.
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Post by SerdarVukota on Jan 18, 2008 20:40:16 GMT -5
Actually there is an offer from the Austro-Hungarian company but it is match below. Gazprom’s offer, in addition it is strategic interest of Serbia to with Gazprom.
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Post by CHORNYVOLK on Jan 20, 2008 5:43:51 GMT -5
Serbia to benefit in long term from Russia’s offer in energy sector
Belgrade, Jan 17, 2008 – Serbian Minister of Infrastructure Velimir Ilic said that the working group of the Serbian government for negotiations on cooperation in the energy sector with Russia should today bring the final decision on accepting the Russian offer of constructing a gas pipeline through Serbia and for the Serbian oil industry NIS.
Velimir Ilic at today's press conference
Ilic told a press conference that the international gas corridor which should go through Serbia is of extraordinary importance since the country would make significant profits from transit of gas, according to some estimates, in the amount of €200 million annually.
He explained that it is also very important that according to the Russian project, if the gas pipeline goes through Serbia, the biggest gas turbine power station in this part of Europe will be built near Nis, which would supply Greece and Turkey with electricity.
According to Ilic, in non-seasonal gas expenditure the power station mentioned would have large production levels so electricity would be exported to tourism regions.
Ilic said that the Russian offer is more favourable than others, because even though in the beginning it offers smaller funds, it gives Serbia long term investments and integration in the entire Gazprom system which also includes production and transport of electricity.
Speaking on privatisation of Jat Airways, the Minister of Infrastructure announced that an international tender for the sale of this airliner will be announced soon and noted that Russia cannot be exempted from that tender regardless of recommendations from the EU.
No one can be exempted from an international tender, Ilic repeated and recalled that the EU recommended that the air system in Europe should function at European level so the company should be privatised by an EU country.
According to Ilic, the Russian offer is better for Serbia than other ones as it offers development of Jat Airways and possibility of growing into a big air company with significant number of new planes and new jobs.
He also said there is a dilemma of re-opening an international tender for construction of cargo centre at Belgrade airport since the previous one failed or to accept the inter-state agreement that Russians offered – that the two countries should jointly build a cargo centre.
Serbia would give land and infrastructure while Russia would finance the project that would be regulated in the inter-state agreement, the Minister said and described the Russian offer as quality and favourable.
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ceskybojovnik1938
Starshiy Praporshchik
Na mnozstvi nehledte - Never regard thier numbers
Posts: 192
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Post by ceskybojovnik1938 on Jan 20, 2008 7:53:46 GMT -5
If western European economies fail, so will eastern. All economies are closley related now.
It is possible we could all have a major depression like 1929 wall street crash, and that affected every nation.
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Post by CHORNYVOLK on Jan 20, 2008 13:39:58 GMT -5
Russia will not fail .Neither will China and India .The rest most definatley .China and India will take up the slack for oil sales from Russia. The anglo bastards can starve for all I care.
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Post by srbinizargentine on Jan 22, 2008 12:02:31 GMT -5
Actually there is an offer from the Austro-Hungarian company but it is match below. Gazprom’s offer, in addition it is strategic interest of Serbia to with Gazprom. The Hungarian offer ammounts to NIS being part of a planned merger between MOL/OMV (and possibly PKN Orlen from Poland). The offer at most gives Serbia 500 mln euro. The 1st russian offer was much higher. |
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Post by CHORNYVOLK on Jan 22, 2008 18:01:20 GMT -5
Russia will not fail .Neither will China and India .The rest most definatley .China and India will take up the slack for oil sales from Russia. The anglo bastards can starve for all I care. World financial crisis will have no major impact on Russia - CBR 20:40 | 22/ 01/ 2008 TULA, January 22 (RIA Novosti) - A senior Russian Central Bank official said on Tuesday that the ongoing crisis on the world financial markets would have no major implications for Russian banks. Gennady Melikyan, the bank's first deputy chairman, said that a crisis would not prove "fatal" for the Russian banking system as its resources and financial instruments would allow it to come through any difficulties largely unscathed. He said the crisis in the West would continue, since "the Western financial system has yet to restructure radically." Asked how the decline in stock exchange indexes could affect Russian banks, he replied that, "our banks are not so stupid: they have already dumped securities that are now depreciating." He said Russian banks started reducing their securities portfolio - by 2.3% in August, 12.2% in September, and 12.6% in October 2007, adding however, that in November and December their securities portfolio had grown somewhat. Melikyan said Russian banks had shown a record equity capital growth in 2007 of 57%. "That is an absolute record," he said, adding that the CBR's figures were not final, but only an estimate. He also said Russian banks had increased their assets last year by a total of 43% (as compared to 44.1% in 2006), reaching 20.08 trillion rubles ($800 billion) by the year's end. en.rian.ru/russia/20080122/97548862.html |
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Post by CHORNYVOLK on Jan 22, 2008 18:09:59 GMT -5
Russia's Gazprom Takes Control of Serbian Oil Monopoly
By JUDY DEMPSEY
BERLIN - Russia added Serbia's oil monopoly to its recent string of energy
acquisitions in a deal that will also allow Moscow to send more natural gas
to Europe through its South Stream pipeline, it was announced Tuesday.
Four days after signing a major pipeline deal with Bulgaria, the Russian
state-owned energy giant Gazprom agreed to take a 51 percent stake in NIS,
the Serbian state-owned oil company. The purchase was announced in a
statement by the Serbian government.
The deal was yet another blow to the European Union's ambitions to build its
own 2,000-mile pipline to bring gas to Europe from Iran and Azerbaijan via
Turkey, analysts said.
The E.U.'s Nabucco pipeline project was conceived to allow Europe to reduce
its dependence on Russia, which already supplies a quarter of the bloc's
natural gas. Nabucco has been dogged by logistical delays, lack of political
will and disputes over financing, the analysts said.
"As regards the deal between Russia and Serbia, we can blame the E.U. for
some of this," said Borut Grgic, an energy expert and director of the
Institute for Strategic Studies in Ljubljana, Slovenia. "In all its
negotiations with Serbia when dealing with the future status of Kosovo, the
E.U. never brought up with Serbia the issue of energy security and how
Serbia could play an important role for Europe," he added.
Gazprom has taken advantage of the disarray inside the European Union by
forging ahead with its own contracts with Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary and now
Serbia, as it consolidates its presence in southeastern Europe.
Under terms of the provisional agreement, approved Tuesday by Serbia's
cabinet, Gazprom has offered to pay $600 million for a 51 percent stake in
NIS, with pledges to turn Serbia into a hub for Russian energy. The contract
is to be signed Friday in Moscow.
Gazprom will also commit investments of around $725 million toward
modernizing Serbia's energy infrastructure. In addition, a spur from the
South Stream pipeline under the Black Sea will be directed into Serbia,
enhancing its role as a transit point for Russian gas.
The Russian deal coincides with a fiercely contested presidential election
that has focused on plans by the United States and the European Union to
recognize the independence of the province of Kosovo despite opposition from
most Serbian political parties and Russia, Serbia's closest ally on the
issue.
The ultranationalist candidate, Tomislav Nikolic, won the most votes during
the first round of voting last Sunday but not enough to secure outright
victory. His pro-Western challenger, Boris Tadic, also opposes Kosovo's
independence but has refused to support sanctions against countries that
recognize Kosovo's statehood. The two candidates face a run-off in two
weeks.
Given the political context, analysts said, there was a linkage between the
energy deal and the presidential elections.
"If a pro-Western candidate were to win the election, the deal with Russia
might not be signed," said an E.U. energy expert who requested anonymity
because of the sensitivity of the issue. "There was no need to rush through
the NIS deal, but the cabinet did it Tuesday."
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Post by Lonevolk on Jan 22, 2008 19:51:10 GMT -5
The PM (Kostunica) was pushing this deal with Russia.
Tadic agreed to it in exchange for Kostunica agreeing not to block the EU cooperation treaty in parliament.
It also allows Tadic to be represent himself to more nationalist leaning voters, as someone who can have good relations with Russia while pushing for EU membership.....in reality events on the ground have forced his hand
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Post by medo on Feb 4, 2008 8:55:23 GMT -5
Russia's Gazprom Takes Control of Serbian Oil Monopoly By JUDY DEMPSEY . . . "If a pro-Western candidate were to win the election, the deal with Russia might not be signed," said an E.U. energy expert who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. "There was no need to rush through the NIS deal, but the cabinet did it Tuesday." It looks like EU intends to pressure Serbia after the election of Tadic over the Serbo-Russian gas deal. If the Serbs, threatened with sanctions and isolation in case of pro-Russian candidate win and without firm Russian support (some pro-Kremlin Russian articles even write that pro-Russian candidate's win is not in Russia's interest), vote for Tadic even when they are facing violent and unilateral secession of their historical province, then I think it will be piece of cake for EU and the West to pressure Serbia over gas deal with Russia and all the other economic deals. We shall soon see real colors of Tadic... |
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