"AZENERJI" WILL CHOOSE CONTRACTOR OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF ENERGY OBJECTS
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The JC "Azenerji" plans announcement of the tender on choosing of general contractor on projecting and construction of electric power transmission lines Imishli - Ali-Bayramli - Astara as well as the construction and reconstruction of four substations, it has been informed in the agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan" in the press-service of the Ministry of Energy.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The Ministers of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed memorandum on intension of governments of three countries to take part in the construction of the piece Kars (Turkey) - Akhalkalaki (Georgia) of the railway route Kars - Akhalkalaki - Baku.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The Iranian company Urmiya Sement has offered construction of the plant on production of concrete in Baku, the agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan has been informed in the Ministry of the Economic Development of Azerbaijan.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The trade turnover of Azerbaijan has increased by 37% as compared with the analogous period of 2003 and made $2.8 bn. The volume of export has increased by 33.8% (1.3 bn), import - 33.6% ($1.5 bn).
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
For seven months the population of Azerbaijan purchased consumer goods by a total of 10.4 trln manats (4901 manats - $1). In comparison with the analogous period of the past year this rate grew by 12.3%. Juridical persons realized 21.2% of goods; 31.8% of goods were sold on fairs; 11.4% were sold on markets and 35.6% of goods were sold in the trade points.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Issues of interaction of Russia and Azerbaijan within frameworks of CIS as well as the Nagorni Karabakh adjustment will be in center of discussions during negotiations of the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Azerbaijan Mr. Sergey Lavrov and Mr. Elmar Mamedyarov. The MFA of the RF has informed about this.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
For the past month specialists of the National Agency of Mine Actions (ANAMA) cleaned 1.335.566 sq. meters of territory of Azerbaijan from mines and unexploded vessels.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan have announced tender on purchasing of equipment for conduction of monitoring of quality of water on border rivers Kura and Araz, the Agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan" has been informed in the Ministry of Ecology.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The French Total S. A. has won the tender on purchasing of the first September party of the Azerbaijan oil from the port of Novorossisk. As the Marketing and Economic Operations Office of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan has informed, the volume of this party will make 130 thou tons, shipment should take place in the mid of September.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The company BP-Azerbaijan has executed 80% of works on the construction of gas pipeline, which will lay from the Sangachal terminal up to the distribution network of the JC "Azerigaz". Supposedly the construction will be completed on September - October. The Director of the project on enlarging of the Sangachal terminal Mr. Yakobus Nyuvenkhauze has said.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The extension of the Sangachal terminal within frameworks of "Phase-1" of the development of the fields "Azeri-Chiraq-Guneshli" (ACG) was executed by 98%. The Director of the project on enlarging of the Sangachal terminal Mr. Yakobus Nyuvenkhauze has informed journalists about this.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The American McDermott Caspian Cotractors has completed modernization of the diving ship "Tofig Ismaylov" by order of the company BP-Azerbaijan.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The debt of Ukraine by a total of $1.25 bn for the Russian gas consumed in 1997 - 2000 will be redeemed in 2005 - 2009 in account of the transit of the Russian "blue fuel" through the Ukrainian territory. The government of the country has taken such decision.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The Russian "Gazprom" plans large investment projects in Turkey. The Deputy Chief of the Management of the concern Mr. Yuri Komarov has declared about this.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Dangers of Turkey on risk of overloading of the Strait of Bosphorus in connection with reverse using of the oil pipeline Odessa-Brodi are baseless. The Director of the Department of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine Mr. Nikolay Evdoshuk believes so.
BAKU.11.08.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The specialists of the Japanese consulting company TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) have prepared the conclusive report, in which results of many months studying of conditions of energy sector of Azerbaijan were made.
Expectedly, results of the tender will be published on September - October and the project will be realized during 20 - 24 months.
The Iranian bank of export and development will take part in financing of the project and it will allocate $75 MM for these purposes. The relevant agreement between Azerbaijan and Iran was signed during the visit of the President of Iran Mr. Mohammad Khatami to Baku on August 5 - 7. The project will be financed totally in account of the Iranian credit; additional credits or proper means of "Azerenerji" will make rest means.
As it was informed earlier, for several years the Azerbaijan and Iranian sides realize measures for intensification of energy exchanged between two states, in result of which presently the mutual supplies of electric energy may make 200 MWt. Their further increasing up to 700 MWt is planned.
For realization of these strategic objectives only on the territory of Azerbaijan 350 km of high voltage EPTL with a voltage of 220 and 330 kV must be constructed from the Imishli Region littoral with Iran through Ali-Bayramli, Salyani and Masalli up to Astara.
Moreover, reconstruction of substations in Imishli, Ali-Bayramli and Masalli as well as construction of substation in Salyani is required.
TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA INTEND TO TAKE PART INTO THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY KARS - AKHALKALAKI
As the Minister of Transport of Azerbaijan Mr. Ziya Mamedov has informed, the construction of the main road Kars - Akhalkalaki will allow adjustment of the regular railway communication between Azerbaijan and Turkey through the territory of Georgia.
By the words of the Minister, in the next time the sides will be engaged in solving of practical problems, especially working out of the feasibility report and searching for financing of the project, cost of which is estimated by and approximate total of $400 MM.
"At the present time a total for realization of the project have not been determined for the present as well as source of financing and the countries-participants will be engaged in this in the next tme.
A length of the railway Kars (Turkey) - Akhalkalaki (Georgia) makes 120 km and 90 km of them lay on the territory of Turkey and 30 km - on the territory of Georgia.
Conjuncture on international cargo transportation market as well perspectives of improvement of cooperation between transport ministries of two countries have been discussed during the meeting of the Ministers of transport of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
THE IRANIAN URMIYA SEMENT HAS OFFERED CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE PLANT IN BAKU
By the words of the official of the Ministry of the Economic Development, the Azerbaijan side will conduct additional negotiations with the potential Iranian investor for determination of some details of the project.
"During the negotiations, which are planned to be completed as soon as possible, a capacity of offered plant, a volume of investments, rate of employment, profitability of enterprise and other parameters of plant will be determined during the negotiations", - the interlocutor has emphasized and added that Azerbaijan needs very much in such enterprise.
At the present time the CJC "Garadag Cement" is the monopolist in the field of the production of concrete.
Officials of the Ministry of Economic Development have confirmed that during 1995 - 2003 a volume of the Iranian investments to the economy of Azerbaijan made about $60 MM. A volume of goods turnover between the countries for the first half of 2004 reached $100 MM and this twice exceeds the analogous period for January - June of 2003.
EXTERNAL TRADE TURNOVER OF AZERBAIJAN MADE $2.8 BN FOR SIX MONTHS OF 2004
On January - June a share of the countries of the CIS made 31,9% of total goods tunover and a share of the countries of the EU made 36.2%. Totally a share of the European countries made 53.6% of the turnover, of the Asian countries - 42.6%, the American countries - 3%, the African countries - 0.6%, and the countries of Oceania - 0.2%.
In the mentioned period trade operations were carried out with 112 countries. Italy, Russia, Kazakhstan, the Great Britain, France, Iran, Germany, Turkmenistan, the USA, Ukraine, China, Malaysia and Sweden were the main trade partners of Azerbaijan.
We shall note that for the past year external goods turnover of Azerbaijan make $5.218 bn. Export made $2.592 bn, import - $2.626 bn. As a result in 2003 negative balance of external trade turnover by a total of $34 MM was formed.
During the past year Azerbaijan carried out trade operations with 129 countries. The government forecasts increasing of external trade up to $6.156 bn by 2008.
THE POPULATION OF AZERBAIJAN PURCHASED CONSUMER GOODS BY $2.122 BN FOR SEVEN MONTHS
As it has been informed in the State Oil Committee, food goods have made the major part of expenses of the population. For the past period expenses for goods of this category made 6.9 trln. Manats. Expenses for nonfood goods made 3.5 trln. Manats. In comparison with the analogous period of the past year these rates have grown correspondingly by 9.5% and 20.2%.
For this period services by a total of 1.9 trln manats were rendered and this exceeded analogous rates of the past year by 16.6%.
IN MOSCOW THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN WILL DISCUSS THE KARABAKH ADJUSTMENT AND CASPIAN ISSUES
Mr. E. Mamedyarov will visit to Moscow on August 17 - 19 with the state visit.
"The negotiations of the Foreign Minister of the RF Mr. S. Lavrov and Mr. E. Mamedyarov, during which opinions of the sides on issues of fight against terrorism will be expressed, perspectives of the Russian-Azerbaijan cooperation in different fields, interaction of Russia and Azerbaijan within frameworks of CIS and international arena, issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh adjustment and the Caspian problems will be discussed", - the MFA of the RF informs.
IN AZERBAIJAN ABOVE MILLION SQUARE METERS OF TERRITORY WERE CLEANED FROM MINES ON JULY
As "Interfax-Azerbaijan" has been informed in the press service of the ANAMA, during the works 139 mines and other vessels were revealed and neutralized. On the place of works else 877965 thou sq. meters remained unchecked", - it has been noted in press service. 82 sappers took part into in the actions and furthermore 15 specially trained dogs assist to reveal dangerous vessels.
For all the period of the works on mine actions of the territories of Azerbaijan 10.611.918 sq. km were cleaned from mines and vessels, more 6130 mine and unexploded vessels were neutralized.
THE MINISTRY OF ECOLOGY OF AZERBAIJAN WILL CHOOSE SUPPLIER OF THE EQUIPMENT FOR DETERMINATION OF QUALITY OF WATER.
"We plan installing two laboratories - one in the Gazakh region, and other - in the Fizuli (regions littoral with Armenia) for determination of quality of water in littoral rivers", - the official of the Ministry has informed.
TOTAL HAS PURCHASED THE FIRST SEPTEMBER PARTY OF THE AZERBAIJAN OIL
Since the beginning of the year the companies Total, Glencore, Sonol, Vitol Broking, LUKoil, Litasco, Arcadia, Rocoil, Eurasian Oil, Taurus and Petrofarm have purchased oil of the SOCAR.
A total volume of oil export of the SOCAR for 2004 will make 2.5 MM tons and this corresponds to level of 2003.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GAS PIPELINE FROM THE SANGACHAL TERMINAL UP TO THE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK OF "AZERIGAZ" WILL COMPLETE ON OCTOBER
The agreement on construction of this gas pipeline was concluded in the past year between the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan. By the end of 2003 the project of the new pipeline was prepared and documents on estimation of impact of the construction and operation of the pipe on environment were approved.
The length of the gas pipeline is 5 km, the capacity makes 20 - 25 MM cubic meters daily. The cost of its construction makes $13 MM. It is planned that the construction will be completed on September of 2004.
This gas pipeline should be necessary for delivering casing-head gas to Azerbaijan produced by within frameworks of the project of full-scale development of the fields "Azeri - Chiraq - Guneshli".
As Media-Press informed earlier, the casing-head gas would be delivered from the terminal under a pressure of 40 - 41 atm. Pipelines managing of the JC "Azerigas" are not able to keep such pressure. So it is planned to install also gas regulator, which would reduces the pressure up to 20 atm. and then gas would be delivered to the distribution network of "Azerigaz".
Today all oil delivered to the Sangachal terminal is separated from water and gas. The gas received in result of this is burned. The construction of the new installation will allow not burning gas, but delivering it to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, which in its turn will deliver it to consumers. The gas will be burned in flames only in emergencies. In the future it would allow reducing the gas import.
For satisfaction of the demands up to 10 bn cubic meters of gas would be required annually. Today the gas produced in Azerbaijan provides only 50% of demands of the country. By predictions, the gas production in Azerbaijan would make 5.04 cubic meters this year and the Azerbaijan Operating Company would transfer 890 MM cubic meters from this volume to the state in accordance with the contract free of charge.
WORKS ON ENLARGING OF THE SANGACHAL TERMINAL WITHIN FRAMEWORKS OF THE PROJECT ACG HAVE BEEN EXECUTED BY 98%
By his words, construction of two oil reservoirs by volume of 125 thou tons (800 thou bbl) of each one has been constructed on the terminal. A height of each reservoir makes 22 meters, a diameter - 100 meters. 6 thou steel sheets, imported from France have been required. They are the largest oil tanks in Azerbaijan. Now construction of the third analogous reservoir is going. Works on it have been executed by 75%. By the end of the year all three reservoirs will be put into operation.
In the third quarter on the Sangachal oil terminal test works will start within frameworks of the project "Azeri". For conduction of tests oil produced from the platform "Chiraq-1" will be used.
As to extension of the Sangachal terminal for needs of other large project - development of offshore gas condensate field "Shakh-Deniz" by the words of Mr. Y. Nyuvenhouze, works have been executed by 35% here.
After completion of all works the Sangachal terminal will become the central point for collection, processing and exportation of oil produced on the off-shore megastructure ACG and all the gas produced on the field "Shakh-Deniz" In the period of the maximum production a total capacity of the terminal will make about 1 MM bbl of oil and 1 bn cubic meters of gas (28.3 MM cubic meters of gas) per diem. Since start of gas production on the field "Shakh-Deniz" up to 300 MM cubic feet of "blue fuel" will be processed and delivered to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
THE AMERICAN MCDERMOTT CASPIAN CONTRACTORS HAVE COMPLETED MODERNIZATION OF DIVING SHIP FOR BP-AZERBAIJAN
By the words of the Vice-President of BP-Azerbaijan Mr. Nil Show, now tests of equipment are going in the ship and on August 25 it will be delivered to dry dock. On September marine tests will start. Underwater works will be carried out by means of "Tofig Ismailov".
The modernization of the ship has cost $35 MM. We shall remind that McDermott Caspian Contractors has executed earlier orders of BP - by modernization of the Azerbaijan pipe laying ship "Israfil Guseynov: and three subsidiary ships of "Kaspmornefteflot". A total of the contract made $40 MM. These ships were used for underwater laying of pipelines from the field "Chiraq" up to the Sangachal terminal.
UKRAINE WILL REDEEM $1.25 BN TO RUSSIA IN ACCOUNT OF TRANSIT OF THE RUSSIAN GAS ON ITS TERRITORY
In accordance with the document, "Neftegaz Ukraini" will sign the agreement on mutual reckonings with "Gazprom", in which reception of advance of "Gazprom" by a total of $1.25 bn as payment for services on transit of the Russian natural gas through the territory of Ukraine in 2005 - 2009.
For the realization of agreement the government has recommended to the National Ukraine to adjust issue on liberation of "Neftegaz Ukraini" from obligatory sales of a half of earning in foreign currency, which will be transferred by "Gazprom".
The total debt of "Neftegaz Ukraini" to "Gazprom" for gas consumed in 1997 - 2000 makes $1.48 bn.
Earlier mechanism of redemption in a way of issuing of obligations with a 10 years period of use and liquidation in 2003 - 2013 was worked out. However, "Gazprom" has not accepted valuable papers for a possibility of appearance of significant tax liabilities.
As the RIA "Novosty" reports, "Gazprom" plans completion of all operations on adjustment of redemption in the next days.
"GAZPROM" PLANS LARGE INVESTMENT PROJECTS IN TURKEY
By his words, "the question is about many hundreds millions dollars… quite wide complex of projects is considered". Particularly, as Mr. Komarov has noted, "this relates to gasification of the country, gas distribution system and construction of underground tanks of fuel".
Mr. Yuri Komarov has informed "in Turkey projects, which are most profitable will be determined on September" (most likely during the visit of the President of the RF Mr. V. Putin to Turkey, which should take place in the beginning of September - Media-Press). Now, by the words of Mr. Komarov, "detail discussion of plans of cooperation including with the government of Turkey is gone".
As "Finance News" note, after "The Blue Stream", which is the project of gas delivery to Turkey by the bottom of the Black Sea, - "Gazprom" intends to carry out the new one. For this time the Russian monopoly wants to spend money for growing consumers in Turkey.
The company hopes to provide itself with full loading the gas pipeline, built already by allocation of money in electric power stations.
The relevant negotiations with Turkish side, the newspaper reminds, were conducted in the end of July, when the "Gazprom" delegation led by of the Chief of the Management of the company Mr. Alexey Miller has conducted "local exploration" and met with the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Mr. Khilmi Guler. And now, as only "Gazprom" will take objects, which are interesting for it, signing of agreements on investments is expected.
Analysts comment in different ways new investment plans of "Gazprom" in Turkey. For example, the official of the IC "ATON" Mr Dmitri Lukashev notes, that "scarcely to the new projects on the territory of this country will appear more profitable than simple gas export". And particularly, if to tell about taking part into energy projects, in Turkey this business is profitable due to the state regulation. However, as the example of "The Blue Stream" has showed, "Gazprom" most likely looses from having "state resource in this country".
However, from the other hand, supplement investments are rather a single opportunity of paying back of means, which had been allocated in the "Blue Stream". The analyst of the IA "Prospect" Mr. Dmitrii Mangelev emphasizes that efforts of the Russian company to grow own Turkish consumers "is directed to using entirely transport capacities, which are available already and pay back the construction of gas pipeline system". This process will prolong for long years without new investments, so why not if especially "Gaprom" finds "objects suitable for investments" on the territory of the country.
FEARS OF TURKEY ON OVERLOADING OF BOSPHOURS ARE BASELESS, OFFICIALS OF KIEV CONSIDER
Mr. Evdoshuk has declared to the journalists that after start of pumping of the Russian oil by the mentioned oil pipeline in direction of the oil-bulk terminal "Yuzni" the loading of Bosphorus will increase by 7% (by 9 MM ton per annum).
As in 2003 oil transportation through Bosphorus by means of tankers made 135 MM tons at maximally possible volumes of 200 MM tons, additional volumes of 9 MM tons will not significantly affect on situation in the strait, he has said. "They (the Turkish) express their fears of technological character, however they are baseless", - Mr. Evdoshuk has said.
As it has been informed, the Foreign Minister of Turkey Mr. Abdulla Gul has expressed his troubles on plans of Ukraine on transportation of the Russian oil in reverse direction by the oil pipeline Odessa-Brodi for the further transportation by the Black Sea and through Bosphorus.
In interview to the Ukrainian newspaper "Zerkalo Nedeli" Mr. Abdulla Gul has emphasized that intensity of traffic in the Turkish straits amplifies every day. The question is about especially intensive growth in transportation of dangerous substances, volumes of which grew by 125% for last seven months and exceeds 134 MM tons.
By his words, "no one straits in the worlds with the similar intensive cargo activities does not cross center of city with 12 MM population." "Such situation - is a source for troubles of our country. Our government applies all efforts for getting maximum safety level of life, property, environment and navigation hardly working in this trend, The system VTS put into operation in the end of the past year is the real example of these efforts ", - the Foreign Minister of Turkey has said.
"We expect support of all our Black Sea neighbors. However, in spite of all taken measures, it would be impossible to remove all risks in the strait of Bosphorus. For getting this the Turkish straits should not be used any more as oil pipelines and roundabout ways should be preferred", - Mr. Abdulla Gul has said.
THE JAPANESE TEPCO HAS PREPARED THE CONCLUSIVE REPORT ON CONDITIONS OF THE AZERBAIJAN ENERGY SYSTEM
As the official of the TEPCO has noted on the seminar, which was held in Baku with participation of the government and the Ministry of Fuel and Energy, since April of 2004, experts of the company have studied in details annual rates, forecasts and analyses on the field. Trips to objects, meetings with experts of other ministries and officials of energy distribution companies have been held.
By the words of the Chief of the Industrial-Technical Department of the JC "Azenerji" Mr. Teyar Ibragimov, the sides were unanimous in the main issue - Azerbaijan needs sharply in growing of generating capacities, especially in the Absheron Peninsula.
At the same time there are some disagreements on opinion of the Japanese specialists in estimation of priority of some projects. Particularly, the Azerbaijan side attaches strategic importance to programs, which provide increasing of electric power deliveries to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
We shall note that the company TEPCO conducts this work by the order of the Japanese Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), which has allocated means for this. On a base of received results the JBIC plans to build the further policy of cooperation with energy workers of Azerbaijan.
We shall remind that he JBIC allocated a credit for the construction of the first steaming gas installation by a capacity of 400 MWt on the Baku SREPS "Severnaya". The Japanese Company Mitsui constructed it. Besides, the JBIC has allocated the credit the construction of the gas pipeline Garadag - Digyakh - SREPS "Severnaya". Totally a total of credits of the bank made about $340 MM.
