INVESTMENTS TO THE ECONOMY OF AZERBAIJAN EXCEEDED 3 TRLN MANATS THIS YEAR
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The volume of investments to the economy of Azerbaijan from all sources of financing made 3.167 trln manats for two months of 2004 and this exceeds the analogous rate of 2003.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The feasibility report of the project of the reconstruction of all eight energetic blocks SREPS "Azerbaijan" has been developed. As press-service of the JC "Azenerji", a contractor, who will be chosen on a tender base, shall prepare the technical part. The realization of the project will allow improving the productivity of each energetic block from 280 up to 310 MWt. At the same time the consumption of fuel on the production of 1 kWt of electric energy will reduce from 390 up to 330 gr.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: For the first two months of 2004 the volume of cargo activities in Azerbaijan made 17.1 MM tons - by 8.7% more than for the same period of 2003.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The issue of using of Volgo-Don Channel as the international river transportation way will be discussed by the Foreign Ministries of the Caspian states in Moscow.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The National Airline Company "The Azerbaijan Airlines" (AZAL) has increased a number of flights by a route Baku - Moscow - Baku. Now the aircrafts "Boeing 757-200", "Boeing 757-235" and Tu-154 M will fly from "Domodedovo" to Baku daily.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Russia does not consider the suggestion on the construction of the connective oil pipeline from Novorossiisk to the Georgian port Supsa with the further connection to the pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan. The Special Envoy of the President of the RF on the Caspian issues the Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Victor Kalyuzni has said.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Since 1999 (a start of the operation) above 200 MM bbls of oil have been exported by the pipeline Baku - Supsa.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: "The project of the construction of the oil pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan is "clearly American, antieuropean: project, as oil being transported by this route will go to only the USA passing by Europe". The Special Envoy of the President of the RF on the Caspian problems, the Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Victor Kalyuzni has said.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: For January - February of 2004 the production of the oil products on the Azerbaijan oil processing plants increased by 7% in comparison with the analogous period of the past year.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The company, which will study perspectives of the laying the pipeline for delivery the natural gas from Iran and Azerbaijan through Turkey was founded in Europe. The matter is moving quickly and the decision on start of the construction may be taken in this year already, internet-site RusEnergy informs. In a case of success the Russian "Gasprom" should stand closer and give a part of the European markets to rivals.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: For the first 8 hours after since removal of the economic blockade of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic and restoration of railway communication with the rest regions of Georgia in midnight, 20 goods truck trains followed by the territory of the autonomous republic including 9 trains loaded by 3 thou tons of oil products from Azerbaijan and Middle Asia. The Chief of the Station of city Kobuleti Mr. David Baladze has said.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: In Tbilisi the third international conference "Oil, gas, energy and infrastructure" - GIOGIE 2004 has completed its work in Tbilisi. Issues of development of the projects of the Main Exporting Pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyha and South-Caucasus Gas Pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Erzurum, the development of the European transport route, tendencies and capacities of oil and gas transportation through the territory of Georgia were discussed on it.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: For a year (since March of 2003 up to March of 2004) about 4 MM tons of oil from the countries of Central Asia has been delivered to the Iranian town Neka by the replace ment scheme, the Executive Director of the Organization of Ports and Navigation of Iran Mr. Akhmed Donyamali has said. This is in four times more than for the analogous previous period.
BAKU.19.03.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: In the next time the USA may meet with the problem of breaking the oil deliveries from the countries of the OPEC. The new antiterrorist law of the UNO may be a reason of this though this looks paradoxically. It has been cleared up the countries of the OPEC have not prepared for the new marine antiterrorist regulations of the UNO, which enters into force on July 1, 2004, the agency Reuters informs with a reference to anonymous sources.
By the data of the State Statistic Department, foreign investments have made above 89% of all investments. 2.9 trln manats (91.7%) were allocated in account of own means of companies and organizations (including foreign ones), 25.33 bn (0.8%) of bank credits (0.8%), budget means - 15.835 bn (0.5%), means of out-of-budget funds - 3.1 bn (0.1%), proper means of the population - 41.11 bn (1.3%).
Supposedly 18 trln 405.4 bn manats will be allocated to the economy of Azerbaijan in 2004 and the foreign investments will make 14 trln 855.4 bn and inner investments will make 3 trln 550 bn manats.
THE FEASIBILITY REPORT OF THE RECONSTRUCTION OF ALL EIGHT ENERGETIC BLOCKS OF THE SREPS "AZERBAIJAN" HAS BEEN WORKED OUT
"Azenerji plans to attract about $80 MM for the modernization of the SREPS "Azerbaijan". The European Reconstruction and Development Bank may allocate up to $50 MM and negotiations on this are being conducted. As well as a number of the German banks display their interests to the realization of this project.
The ERDB already has an experience of cooperation with "Azenerji". The modernization of the Mingechavir HES ($21MM) has been carried out ($21 MM) and the construction of Enikend HES ($53 MM) has been completed.
The project capacity of the Azerbaijan SREPS makes 2.4 TWt. The first block on the station was put into operation in 1981, the eighth - in 1989. More than a half of all produced electric energy in the state is produced on the SREPS.
FOR JANUARY - FEBRUARY A VOLUME OF CARGO ACTIVITIES IN AZERBAIJAN MADE 17.1 MM TONS
By the information of the State Statistic Committee, car transport has carried 52.4% of cargos; the railway transport - 18.3%; 17.1% - main pipelines; marine transport - 12.2%.
Cargo activities by the car transport have grown by 0.7% in comparison with the analogous period of the past year and by 0.3% on the marine transport. The pipeline deliveries have reduced by 1.1%.
In accordance with predictions, in 2004 the volume of cargo activities will make 111.5 MM tons, that is will grow by 6.4% in comparison with 2003. Especially, 61 MM tons of cargos will be transported by the car transport - a growth by 3.7%, 17.2 MM tons - pipeline (a growth by 2.3%), 14 MM tons - marine one (a growth by 12.9%).
THE ISSUE OF THE VOLGA-DON CHANNEL WILL BE DISCUSSED BY FOREIGN MINISTRIES OF THE CASPIAN STATES - VICTOR KALYUZNI
"The foreign ministries of the Caspian states will discuss this issue and may be heads of these states join to discuss in the next future", - the Special Envoy of the President of the RF on the Caspian problems Mr. Victor Kalyuzni has said on the sitting of the integration business-club.
By his words, the issue of giving the status of the international river transportation way was "the corner-stone of the discussion on the sitting of the special working group on the Caspian Sea".
Mr.Kalyuzni has noted that comparison of Volga and Dunai is not correct. "Volga is inner waters of Russia while Donay flows through a number of the European countries", - he has said.
By his words, to date Russia is ready to simplify the permission regime of navigation on Volga"; as to trade fleet, there are not problems. Problems are on military movements", - he has said.
By the opinion of Mr. V. Kalyuzni and during the consideration of the issue by Foreign Ministries and probably by heads of the Caspian states "permission regime of passing by Volga remains".
AZAL HAS INCREASED A NUMBER OF FLIGHTS TO MOSCOW
The cooperation of the airport "Domodedovo" and the Air Company "The Azerbaijan Ailines" started in 2003. Up to March of 2004 flight in this direction was carried out on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
MR. KALYUZNI: RUSSIA DOES NOT CONSIDER AN OPPORTUNITY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OIL PIPELINE NOVOROSSIISK-SUPSA-CEYHAN AND THE PROBLEM OF BOSPHORUS IS ARTIFICIAL
We shall remind that the Georgian side else in times of the President of E. S has spoken out such idea and recently M. M. Saakashvili repeated it in some modified style during his recent visit to Moscow. Earlier the Georgian International Oil Corporation (GIOC) appeared as the initiator of the project. Supposedly, oil delivered to Novorossisk by the pipeline CTC, Siberian oil and as well as one delivered to Novorossiisk by railway from Makhachkala, 120 MM tons annually should be transported by the new branch way. And then it should be delivered to the pipeline Baku - Ceyhan roundabout the Bosphorus and Dardanelle. This by the opinion of authors of the idea would allow escaping a lot of problems connected with delays in straits for Turkey had made safety measures stricter, especially on the Bosphorus, dividing 15 MM Istanbul in two parts.
Just then the President of the GIOC Mr. Giya Chanturia confirmed that accounts show that given project is very profitable from the commercial point of view. It should be of interest for the Russian side. "We are ready for presenting any primary information to the Russian colleagues, which would confirm on the engineering and economical levels that this project will be very successful", - he has noted. By his words, the Bosporus strait, by which the major part of the Russian oil export passes, is not capable to "process" these volumes. And so the construction of NSC is purposeful enough.
However Mr. Kalyuzni does not shares the optimism of the Georgian side. "This is the good idea, however it would be impossible to realize it - the Russian diplomat has characterized this in such style. - There are two versions - laying the pipeline by the Black Sea shore or bottom of the sea. Clever man will not lay the pipe throut the shore (resort), however underwater one will have negative economic features. So this project is not considered in Russia", - the Russian diplomat has said.
Mr. Kalyuzni did not escape them of the Bosphorus and repeated again "the problem of the straits is artificial". "There is more policy here for persuading as more companies as possible to sharing in BTC. The independent monitoring has showed that Bosporus is loaded by 50% of its capacity", - Mr. V. Kalyuzni has declared.
By his words, there are issues of ecological safety in Bosphorus and they should be studied. "Russia may be engaged in adjustment of these problems. New equipment, double body coat of tankers are necessary - let's discuss this and solve. However it is impossible to supercharge the situation artificially on behalf of another project. It is impossible to close Boshporus entirely", - Mr. V. Kalyuzni has concluded. By the words, the newly elected President of Georgia also has tried to threaten Moscow by soon closing the Turkish straits, however his warning was not seriously accepted because interests of Georgia were displayed in large degree.
For the sake of just we should note that Turkey never put the issue under such angle. Ankara does not intend to close the straits, however it have become to make stricter the navigation regime on them just for ensuring ecological and other safety of Istanbul several years ago already and continues to conduct this policy correspondingly to the growth of oil flows through Bosporus and Dardanelle. By the data of the Ministry of Energy of the RF,in 2003 62 MM tons of the Russian oil were transported through the straits Bosphorus and Dardanelle and this is by 25% more than in 2002 taking into account that for delays in the straits where tankers stood idle for 20 days, cargo owners have lost $12 from each ton of oil. Ankara warns that in the end the authorities of the country may meet with hard "antitanker" demarches of the Turkish public troubled by the "problem of life and death", put by the continuation of tanker navigation through Istanbul.
FOR FIVE YEARS ABOVE 200 MM BBL OF OIL HAVE BEEN EXPORTED BY THE PIPELINE BAKU - SUPSA
As Media-Press has been informed in the company BP-Azerbaijan, for this period 216 tankers including 32 ones with profitable oil of Azerbaijan were shipped.
For five years efficiency of work of the pipeline increased up to 99.5%, capacity was increased up to 150 thou bbl daily. Moreover, the pipeline has received the certificate of the International Standardization Organization ISO 14001.
The pipeline Baku - Supsa starts from the Sangachal terminal in the Caspian Sea and ends in the Georgian Supsa by the floating shipping terminal on the Black Sea. Its length makes 833 km. Six pumping stations are being operated - by two ones in Azerbaijan and Georgia and as well as two pressure lowering stations in Georgia.
The first oil from the Sangachal terminal was pumped to the pipeline on December 10, 1998 and reached the terminal in Supsa on March 11, 1999. The shipping of the first tanker in Supsa was held in the end of March of 1999.
MR. V. KALYUZNI: THE PIPELINE BAKU - TBILISI - CEYHAN IS "CLEARLY AMERICAN, ANTIEUROPEAN" PROJECT
By his words, in Ceyhan tankers with deadweight by 300 - 500 thou tons will be filled up. "It is profitably to transport oil to the USA only. Oil deliveries by tankers up to 150 thou tons are sufficient for Europe", - Mr. V. Kalyuzni has emphasized.
It would be believed that Mr. Kalyuzni has become a supporter of the European interests against the American ones just for the pipeline Baku - Ceyhan as this pipeline will become further a serious competitor for the Russian oil deliveries from the Black Sea. No by volumes, but because it would be easy enough for exporters to buy oil in the Mediterranean Ceyhan than in Novorossiisk or Tuapse for then their transportation to the Mediterranean Sea by tankers and solve simultaneously a problem of passing through the Turkish straits Bosporus and Dardanelle.
If the Russian diplomat is taken on trust, only supertankers by 300 - 500 thou tons will be shipped by the Caspian oil for delivery to the USA. But who has said that it is impossible to ship tankers by 150 thou tons and less for Europe just there. There are unlimited opportunities for discussing on this matter; however a time will adjust everything - rather just purchasers of the Caspian oil including the European ones will adjust.
THE PRODUCTION OF THE OIL PRODUCTS IN AZERBAIJAN GREW BY 7% FOR A YEAR
In accordance with the data of the State Statistic Committee 99.9 thou tons of the car benzene were produced (a growth by 1.6%), diesel fuel - 292.8 thou tons (a growth by 10.5%), kerosene - 110.8 thou (by 4.7% less), oil bitumen - 4.7 thou tons (a growth by 17.5%), lubricating oil - 4.4 thou tons (a growth by 4.8%).
There are two OPP in Azerbaijan - "Azernefteyag" and "Azerneftyanajag". The first one by a capacity of 14 MM tons is specialized in production of lubricating oil and other heavy oil products. "Azerneftyanajag" is specialized on the production of light fractions of oil products. Its capacity makes 8 MM tons.
TURKEY PREPARES FOR GAS TRADE ON THE EUROPEAN MARKETS
The project Nabucco became known still on October 2002 when several European countries decided to unite efforts on diversification of natural gas import. And on March 12 of this year the project has gained the official face: the partners signed the agreement about foundation of Nabucco Company Pipeline Study GmbH - the company with the Office in Vienna. This Company will be engaged in preparation for the feasibility report of the project.
The question is about the construction of the gas pipeline from Turkey to the Central Europe. Supposedly 20 - 30 bn cubic meters of gas will be delivered to Azerbaijan from Iran. The terms of the realization of the project have been fixed: it is planned to complete its FR in the current year already; it is planned to take a decision on the construction practically an once and the gas pipeline is put into operation in 2009. The cons of the project makes preliminarily 4.4 bn euro.
It is the greatest jump in comparison with initial plans, which were discussed by Turkey and Greece. On December of the past year these countries signed the agreement on gas route construction, which may deliver totally 500 MM cubic meters of gas annually since 2005. The pipeline by a length of 200 km should cost 250 MM evro for investors. The second stage of the project provides enlargement of the gas pipeline capacity up to 11 bn cubic meters annually, however rather larger volumes have appeared on the horizon.
FOR THE FIRST 8 HOURS SINCE REMOVAL OF ECONOMIC BLOCKADE OF ADJARIA 3 THOU TONS OF OIL PRODUCTS WERE TRANSPORTED BY RAILWAY
All deliveries are carried out in accordance with usual schedule. And the passenger train Batumi - Tbilisi as well as electric train towards Batumi and Kutaisi will follow as usually", - he has said.
THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "OIL, GAS, ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE" - GIOGIE 2004 HAS COMPLETED ITS WORK IN TBILISI
As the participants of the conference have noted, Georgia, which is situated on crossway from Asia to Europe is the key chain of the energy corridor on transportation of energy resources of the Caspian region. In connection with this the realization of the projects on laying oil pipeline on the territory of Georgia, incomes from which are estimated by $800 MM are strategically important condition for the development of oil sector of the country.
Annually Georgia will receive $62 MM. In 2003 oil and oil products were the main import article in Georgia and made 9.7% in total volume of import and import pipes for the construction of the oil pipeline - 8.9%.
As well restoration and further development of fuel-energy infrastructure of Georgia, investments to the oil field of the country, perspectives of local production of oil and gas became the matter of discussion.
180 officials from 15 countries including BP, pipeline company BTC Co, the Norway "Statoil", the Turkish "BOTAS", SOCAR took part in the conference.
4 MM TONS OF CRUDE OIL HAVE BEEN DELIVERED THROUGH THE TERMINAL IN THE IRANIAN PORT NEKA
By the words of Mr. A. Donyamali, in the new starting year (in Iran the year starts on March 21) the Organization of Ports and Navigation will be able to provide deliveries of 10 MM tons of oil by the replacement scheme. Volumes of similar deliveries certainly depend on agreements, which will be concluded by the Ministry of Oil.
Tehran develops intensively the swap operations with the Central Asian countries receiving their oil in its north and delivering analogous volumes of its oil from the Persian Gulf to the trade partners of these countries. As the Executive Director of the Iranian National Company of Oil-Bulk Fleet Mr. Mokhammed Suri has said, his company invested more $280 MM in transportation of crude oil by replacement scheme in the Caspian Sea. These means are provided for the construction of 6 tankers with a deadweight of 63 thou tons, laying of pipelines, construction of relevant volumes with cost of $6 MM in ports Makhachkala, Aktau - Neka.
By the words Mr. Mokhammad Suri, tankers for 5 thou tons being used for transportation of crude oil at the present time in the Caspian Sea do not allow providing profitable conditions. And using of tankers with deadweight by 63 thou tons will allow reducing average transport expenditures from the present $14 for a ton up to $6.
NEW ANTITERRORIST LAWS OF THE UNO MAY BREAK OIL DELIVERIES TO THE USA
Making stricter safety demands for international transport activities started since events of September 11, 2001. The International Ships and Ports Safety Code (ISPS Code) worked out by the initiative of the USA was accepted on December of 2002 on the next session of the Navigation Safety Committee. As experts note, entering into force of this document may serve a cause for redistribution of the international marine cargo flows if somebody of participants of this market will not manage to introduce necessary changes in time.
The ISPS Code contains more than thousand new regulations certain for all shipping companies and ports taking part in the international trade. However many countries of the oil cartel including the Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kuwait and Indonesia are not ready completely for their introduction. "As we know no one government, which is consulted by us has not taken measures in accordance with the demands of the code, although some ones conduct trainings of officers of special services and have accepted relevant programs", - Reuters quotes the source consulting governments of the Middle East and Africa.
Meanwhile officials of the frontier services guarding sea borders of the USA have declared already that trade ships including oil and gas tankers, which have not relevant certificate, may be deprived a right entering the American ports since summer of the current year. The US fear that just in water way "Al-Kaeda" and other terrorist organizations may deliver "dirty bomb" or other "mass destruction weapons" to the country.
