Russia is using its military power and ability to intimidate small nations to take over control of their energy resources. Do you know how much Russia charges “transit fees” as a state and trough state owned Gasprom? If you would know you would understand the power play in Georgia and other places. Over 50% in many instances!!
Now you know why Russia is rich in energy – all resources are or where plundered form other nations – historic Russia proper has almost none energy related reserves
Reports: Russia, Uzbekistan to build gas pipeline
The Associated PressPublished: September 2, 2008
MOSCOW: Russia and Uzbekistan are to build a new natural gas pipeline across Uzbekistan, strengthening Russia's bid to establish control over Central Asian gas exports to the West.
Speaking Tuesday in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the pipeline will be built to "serve the growing export potential" of Uzbekistan and neighboring Turkmenistan. He added that the deal will be signed "in the near future."
Putin — who was accompanied by Alexei Miller, chief of OAO Gazprom state gas monopoly — held talks with Uzbek President Islam Karimov and other high-ranking officials.
The planned pipeline will pump Turkmen and Uzbek gas into Russia's pipeline system, which Russia will re-export to Europe. Between 26 billion to 30 billion cubic meters will be pumped along the route annually.
The project — which has been under discussions for several months — will strengthen Moscow's hold over Central Asian gas, and undermine Western-backed efforts for a rival trans-Caspian route.
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Putin's visit to Uzbekistan comes just days after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged the West to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas.
Britain has been one of the most strident critics of Russia's actions in Georgia, calling for a review of the European Union's relations with Moscow.
Russia supplies the EU with a third of its oil and 40 percent of its natural gas — a dependence the European Commission says will rise significantly in the future.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that pipeline projects shouldn't be motivated by political considerations.
"Pipelines cannot be created politically. If they are created politically, they will not be economically feasible," he said during a conference call.
Russia controls westward export pipelines for gas from Turkmenistan, which has the largest reserves in the former Soviet Union after Russia and produced around 73 billion cubic meters last year. According to official figures, Russia currently buys around 70 percent of its gas, and earlier this year offered to pay for as much gas as it can sell at European prices.
Energy-hungry China has also sought a cut of Turkmenistan's gas wealth, reaching a deal to build a natural gas pipeline that is to come on line in 2009.
Turkmenistan has agreed to boost the agreed exports to China to 40 billion cubic meters annually, which would entail a sharp increase in production that some analysts doubt can be achieved.
Meanwhile, Russia's largest independent oil producer Lukoil says it plans to produce 12 billion cubic meters of gas per year at Uzbekistan's Kandym and Gissar fields. |
