BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The Company Gobustan Operating Company (GOC), the operator of the project on development of the block "South West Gobustan" will start a drilling of the fourth well with a project depth of 2300 meters on the field Duvanny.
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORKS OF PSA ON THE FIELD "SOUTH-WEST GOBUSTAN" A DRILLING OF THE FOURTH WELL HAS STARTED
As Media-Press has been informed in the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, owing to the new equipment, the drilling is planned to be completed during two weeks.
We shall remind that before this, Gobustan Operating Company had drilled two wells on the field "Dashgil" (a project depth is 2550 meters) and for this instant conducts sinking of one well on "Duvanny". Caspian Sea Ltd. carries out all works.
In accordance with the agreement on dividing the production the exploration period on the South-West Gobustan would be completed on November 2003. By this time, GOC should drill 6 working and one exploration wells on the unit and carry out an overhaul of 19 ones. In total expenses of the Company on all kinds of works have been determined by a volume of $15 MM.
The contract area of the "South-West Gobustan" consists of 3 units with a common square of 604 square km. The following fields, which were developed earlier and left for small oil and gas production have been included in them: "Shikhzakirli", "Sheytanud", "Vyurkyut", "Donuzlug", "Nardaran", "Ilkhichi", "Gyarby Gajiveli", "Sundi", "Shargi Gadjiveli", "Turagay", "Kenizdag", "Gyarbi Duvanni", "Duvanni", "Solakhay" and "Dashgil". 137 working wells were drilled on the field, however they all were shut down. Besides of this else 250 exploration and evaluation wells had been drilled.
The contract on joint exploration and development of the contract area "South-West Gobustan" was signed on June 1998 an ratified on November of the same year by Milly Medjlis. The SOCAR (20%), "Union Texas Petroleum" (UTP - 40%) and "Commonwealth Oil & Gas (40%) became participants of the project. However UTP came left the project, considering it nonprofitable. 40% of sharing remained for Commonwealth. However the company was not able to finance 80% of sharing in the project and so it yielded 62.83% of its share to Chinese Companies Smart Asses and CNOPC.
A total of capital expenditured for realization of the project is estimated by $470 MM, and developed supplies - by 115 MM bbl of oil and 530 bn cubic foots of gas (in total about 206 MM bb, of oil equivalent).
IN WINTER AN OIL EXCESS IS EXPECTED AT THE MARKET, HOWEVER PRICES WILL BE KEPT HIGH, THE ANALYSTS CONSIDER
BAKU.18.08.2003. MEDIA-PRESS: The declaration of the OPEC Management about that the world oil market is probably will meet with the excess oil production in 800 thou bbl per day has a ground, the analytical agencies confirm.
BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Today in the morning an accident has occurred on the Ingury HEPS in the Western Georgia (within the zone of the conflict between Abhazia and Georgia), in result of which all Georgia remained without electricity. The accident occurred in result of fire-arm shoot, the Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Georgia has informed the RIA "Novosty".
BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The volume of the Gross Domestic Product of Azerbaijan produced for seven months of 2003, made 19.2 trln. Manats ($3.902). This is by 10.1% more than for the analogous period of the past year.
BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The Ministry of the Economic Development of Azerbaijan and small venture "Birlik" have signed an agreement on purchase and sale of joint-stocks of the JC "Baku Steel Foundry".
In accordance with the contract, for purchase of this enterprise "Birlik" will transfer 1.8 bn manats to the state budget and will provide the Privatization and the State Property Management for 30 thou privatization cheques for their further cashing. Besides, 300 MM manats will be transferred to accounts of the steel foundry for carrying out of the primary works.
BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The Representation of the Fund "Eurasia" in Azerbaijan has approved six projects directed to development of private businesmanship and civil society in the country. A total of grants allocated to the local organizations by the Fund on these projects made over $164 thou.
BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The new Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the USA in Turkey Mr. Eric Edelman. During his meeting with the journalists in the airport he estimated the American-Turkish relations as "very important".
BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: During the negotiations with the American Administration on sending of the Turkish peacemaking contingent to Iraq, the Turkish Government has suggested to create a buffer zone at the frontier with Iraq.
BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: At the present of intensive environmental contamination rates it will be impossible to breathe already in this winter in Tehran. The Chief of the Ecological Department of the Iranian capital has declared this to the Agency IRNA.
BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Azerbaijan uses the USA presence in the region for making Russia and Iran to accept offers of the Baku officials on the Caspian legal status. Mr. Khamid-Reza Khadjibabay, the Member of the Parliament Commission on the National Security and International Policy of Iran declared about this in the past week-end.
In his interview to the Iranian MEHR he has noted that although the Caspian status still has not been determined a participation of the USA and Azerbaijan in naval manoeures recently held on this sea mean a break of its legal regime in fact.
BAKU.18.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The military manoeures "Asuda Vatan" ("Quiet Fatherland"), during which actions on removal of the international terrorist bands were worked out with applying the aircrafts, artillery, land troops and special subdivisions passed on Satuday on the shore of the Caspian Sea in 25 km from the town Turkmenbashi (the former Krasnovodsk).
So the consusting company from Washington PFC Energy forecasts large volumes of deliveries from Russia, the West Africa and Canada, taking into account also a probability of renewal of oil export from Iraq.
At the present time the International Energetic Agency (IEA) makes a pressure on the OPEC, forcing petroleum exporters to increase oil deliveries for a low level of its supplies in the OEA countries and high prices for it. They, by opinion of the IEA will be saved high up to the end of the year.
They in Cambridge (Cambridge Energy Research Associates) inform about growth in prices for oil more surely and argue their opinion by a low level of supplies at the world market.
The analysts of Citigroup Smith Barney also expect a growth in prices for oil since beginning of heating season, though for the next three months a situation at the futures market remains unclear enough for delayed restoration of oil export from Iraq and unpredicted weather in winter.
GEORGIA IS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AGAIN
The shoot caused a switch off of 500 V electric power transmission line "Imerety", which connects the Western Georgia with the Eastern Georgia, the representative of the Ministry of Energy has reported. A group of experts went out to the accident place and they should to repair the line and renew the electric power transmission. It is unknown how much time would be required for removal of accident. The local police is on the accident place.
As it has been informed in the Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Georgia, for the present the energetic supplying the country including Tbilisi has not restore for the present. Also all over the territory of Georgia a water supplying has been switched off. The Ministry of Fuel and Energy of the country conducts negotiantions with the RJC "UES of Russia" on import of electric power.
THE GDP IN AZERBAIJAN MADE 19.2 TRLN MANATS FOR SEVEN MONTHS OF 2003
By data of the State Statistics Department of Azerbaijan, 39.1 % of the GDP volume made the industry, 7.9% - transport, 2.2% - post and communications, 8.2% - trade and services field, 8.2% - agriculture, 11.7% - building. By counting per head the GDP was produced by a total 2.4 MM manats ($487). This is by 9.3% more than the analogous period of 2002.
We shall remind that for the whole 2002 the GDP volume in Azebaijan made 29.6 trln. Manats ($6.04 bn). 34.9% of them made the industry, 9.8% - transport and communications, 7.5% - trade and services field, the agriculture - 14.2, 10.8 - the construction, 14.7% - the social services. Then 3.7 MM manats of the GDP came for each dweller of Azerbaijan ($755.1).
In accordance with the official forecasts, the volume of the GDP of Azerbaijan in the current year should make 32.8 trln manats ($6.675 bn).
At the present time the international finance organizations (the World Bank, European Reconstruction and Development Bank) allocate favourable credits to Azerbaijan. However, the credit conditions will become more strict after that the GDP will exceed $800 per head. By opinion of the WB experts, Azerbaijan will achieve this in three years.
THE AGREEMENT ON PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE JOINT-STOCKS OF THE JC "BAKU STEEL FOUNDRY"
As Media-Press has been informed in the Ministry of the Economic Development, the investment program of new owner of the foundry is designed for two years and divided by four stages, during which 10 bn manats will be expended for restoration and modernization of the enterprise, purchase of new equipment and introduction of new technologies.
The Baku Steel Foundry was built in 1968. Its project capacity is 24 500 tons of production per a year. For the present the enterprise has debts for wages by a total of 400 MM manats. The debtor indebtedness of the enterprise makes 9.24 bn manats.
Twice the enterprise was offered for sale. On June of the past year the Ministry of the Economic Development broke the contract with the local company "Inekotex", recognized earlier a winner of the invest competition on purchase of this enterprise.
The decision on breaking the contract with the company "Inekotex" was accepted in connection with that it has not carried out its obligations. Particularly, the company had transferred only 605 MM manats to the budget of the country instead of 1.5 bn manats. Besides, it did not allocate investments for development and restoration of the production on the foundry.
And now the SC "Birlik" has become a new owner of the Foundry.
THE FUND "EURASIA" HAS ALLOCATED GRANTS TO SIX AZERBAIJAN ORGANIZATIONS BY A TOTAL OF $164.27 THOU
The Society with Limited Responsibility "SADA" has received a grant of $34.95 thou for realization of the project on supporting investments in small and middle enterprises and their adoption to the local business conditions. The project includes development of the computer program in Azerbaijani for making business-plans, development and distribution of methodic recommendations on estimating efficiency of the investment projects, conduction of trainings for 300 representatives of small and middle enterprises and financial structures and as well as foundation of the web-site "The Investment Opportunities in Azerbaijan".
The enterprise "Center of the Decorative-Applied Art" has received a grant by a total of $13.76 thou for supporting the revival and development of traditions of the Azerbaijan art porcelain in market conditions. Within frameworks of the project the working rooms will be available and teaching materials and technologies for maintenance of the porcelain production will be provided. The future art skill workers will receive theoretical knowledge and practical working skills on not only technological parameters, but the production organizing principles of small private ventures of art ceramics.
The Fund "Igbal" has received a grant by a total of $21.288 thou for revival an development of handicraftsmen in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula. Future art experts will receive knowledge and skills on organizing and conducting the successful business. They will be provided by the methodical and normative materials on the small business organizing. After the training completion a sale exhibition will be held and a catalogue of works of the best skilled experts will be issued as well as a documentary film about modern skilled experts of the public art will be made.
The Company Cron Co Ltd has received a grant by $35.731 thou in support of adoption of small and middle business for new tax system. The project is a continuation of the previous one, which promoted in a great extent to better understanding of the companies within the tax sphere, as well as protection of tax payers rights in four regions of Azerbaijan: Gyanja, Sheki, Shamkir, and Tovuz. It includes preparation and distribution of comments to the Tax Code, working out of electronic data base, conduction of interactive training for 200 representatives in the Jalilabad, Masalli, Lyankyaran and Astara regions of Azerbaijan and enlarges an access to the public education.
The public "Union of Women-Leaders" has received a grand by a total of $36.109 thou for rehabilitation of women after leaving prisons. A goal of the project is returning these men to society in a way of solving their main problems, which they usually meet in the freedom. Within the project it has been planned to create a Rehabilitation Center, where women would be able teach professions and provided for legal assistance. The Center will also be engaged in solving their dwelling, medical and other problems.
"The International Press-Club" of Baku was awarded by a grant by a total of $22.44 thou. These means will go to maintenance of access of the mass-media to information in a way of creation of modern forms of mutual relations between the authorities and mass-media as well as a development of more effective ways of the information exchange between them. Within the project joint seminars and trainings for journalists and representatives of the governmental structures responsible for press and public relations have been provided.
Since 1993 the Fund "Eurasia" has allocated more than 6.5 thou grants by a total of $130 MM to the countries of CIS. The Azerbaijan organizations received grants by a total of $4 MM.
NEW AMERICAN AMBASSADOR HAS ARRIVED IN ANKARA
The new Ambassador started to speak in Turkish. As it was found out, before his appointment he learned the language for 3.5 weeks. Mr. E. Edelman has informed the journalists that the Vice-President Mr. Chaney, the State Secretary Mr. Powell and the Minister of Defense Mr. Ramsfeld consider Turkey very important country in the region. "So the appointment of a Ambassador to this country - is a great honest for me", - Mr. E. Edelman has declared. With this he refused to answer the questions of the journalists, and referred to that still he has not handed credential to the President Mr. Sezer.
The successor of Mr. Robert Pearson has noted that Turkey is very interesting country for him. As it was found found out his mother was born in Istanbul, and his uncle was a Professor in the Ankara University for 31 years.
Before his appointing the Ambassador in Turkey, Mr. Eric Edelman was the National Security Advisor of the US Vice-President Mr. Dick Chaney. The new Ambassador - is the new diplomat. He was engaged in a number of the official posts in the US Ambassy in Moscow in 1987 - 1989 and in Prague in 1994 - 1996. From 1998 - 2001 Mr. E. Edelman was the US Ambassador in Finland. Being a graduator of the Cornell University, he also received a degree of the Doctor of Sciences in the Yell University.
ANKARA OFFERS TO CREATE THE BUFFER ZONE AT THE FRONTIER WITH IRAQ
Ankara offers to create the buffer zone at the frontier of Turkey and Iraq, which should be fully disarmed or the UN troops should be located there for maintenance of the order. It is suggested to apply these measures after stabilization of the situation in Iraq. Turkey gets to create the buffer zone, because fears that in future Iraq will be able to become a citadel of the international terrorism. A reaction of the USA at this offer is unknown for the present.
Meanwhile some details on the secrete American-Turkish negotiations on sending the Turkish peacemakers to Iraq became known. Ankara is ready already for sending its soldiers to the Central Iraq, settled by the Muslims-Sunnites, however there is a number of conditions.
The chief one are concluded in that: a first: only the Turkish servicemen will be responsible for the separate region of the country. A second, only the Turkish commander will stand on a head of the Turkish contingent, A third, the Turkish military presence should be kept in the Northern Iraq. And a last, the Turkish companies should be allowed to restoration works in Iraq. The last condition is concerned first of all to construction companies.
For the present there has not been any information about negotiations results.
AT THE PRESENT ATMOSPHERE CONTAMINATION RATES IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO BREATHE IN TEHERAN IN THE NEXT WINTER
By his words, a specific features of the Teheran weather became a cause of smog in the City during the last month and a situation is critical. The expected enlargement of the Teheran car park by 400 000 cars up to the end of the year will make worse more the ecological situation in the City.
Unfortunately, in this year only 30% of the car technical control stations were loaded, the people escapes to conduct the technical monitoring the car means", - the Department Chief has told. By his words only increase of penny and strict measures against those, who escapes the car technical examination is able to reduce an air contamination problem of Teheran in some degree.
AZERBAIJAN, WHICH HAS INVITED THE USA TO THE CASPIAN SEA WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGATIVE AFTER-EFFECTS OF THIS STEP, THE IRANIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN CONSIDERS
As the Iranian Parliamentarian considers, meanwhile when the littoral countries try to peacefully solve their problem, these naval manoeures held on the pretext of the oil fields security threat to the Caspian states. He considers, that Russia should react in the relevant way to the military presence of the USA in the region. As to a position of his country in this question, by the words of the Deputy, Iran as other Caspian countries unsatisfied by the Caspian militarizing should coordinate its affords with them in this problem.
As Mr. Khamid - Reza Khadjibabay, the Member of the National Security and International Policy Commission of the Parliament of the IRI has emphasized, a country, which had invited the USA to the region would be responsible for all negative after-effects of this step.
ANTITERRORIST MANOEURES PASSED IN TURKMENISTAN
The manoeures were specially organized for delegates and guests of the 14th joint sitting of the Supreme Organ of the State Authority - Khalk Maslahati (The People Council), the Old Men Council and the Common National Movement "Galkinish" ("Revival").
About two and half thou servicemen took part in the manoeures. The main task, put before the participants of the demonstration fights, - is to stop and remove a group of the international terrorists, who have a heavy technique and even aircrafts. Then the special subdivisions of the Ministry of the National Saecurity had to liberate hostages.
