Page 18 - FSUOGM Week 07 2023

FSUOGM NEWS IN BRIEF FSUOGM

Turkey gas hub plans won’t Kazakhstan are gaining traction while the on imports of Russian fuels - alongside a
price cap on diesel and other oil products -
commitment to the once highly-anticipated
be abandoned following Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline project via came into effect on February 5.
Turkmenistan is losing momentum,
earthquake disaster says according to Pipeline Technology Journal. BP cuts 2022 oil production at
“The implementation of the Trans-
Kremlin Afghanistan Pipeline project is under
serious question due to the inability to
Turkey’s earthquake disaster may cause a ensure safe gas supplies in the territory ACG block by 9%
considerable delay in delivering on plans for of Afghanistan,” the publication wrote on Azerbaijan-based BP-Azerbaijan
a gas hub in the country, but the ambition February 10. reported a 21.9% decrease in orders
will not be abandoned, according to Russian Engineers who drafted the proposal for completed by contracting companies for
presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov. the Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline envisaged the development of the Azeri-Chirag-
"Of course, the development of a gas hub it piping natural gas from Galkynysh Gas Guneshli (ACG) and Shah Deniz fields
cannot be Turkey’s priority at the moment, Field in Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and the operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-
we understand this. So, there may be some and Pakistan and into India. Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, totalling $1.39bn
delay [in project execution]," Peskov said, A Russia to Pakistan and India pipeline in 2022. According to the press service of
according to TASS. route would still have to run across part BP-Azerbaijan, a total of 370 contracting
Peskov emphasised that "many, many of Afghanistan to reach its destinations in companies completed orders for these
countries, including Russia" will assist South Asia. Even if it ran from Kazakhstan projects, with 14 joint ventures completing
Ankara in realising the gas hub if required. to Tajikistan, it would still have to be laid orders for $651.5mn, 30 state-owned
Turkey planned to hold a gas hub across Afghanistan. At their closest point, enterprises for $39mn, 222 small and
summit during February 14-15. However, it Tajikistan and Pakistan are 16 kilometres medium-sized enterprises for $310.3mn,
has rescheduled to March 22. (10 miles) apart. They face each other and 104 foreign contractors operating in
Separately, rescue workers of the Russian across Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, a Azerbaijan for $388.2mn. BP-Azerbaijan
emergency ministry are working round- narrow strip of territory in northeastern invested a total of $5.4mn in social projects
the-clock in areas of Turkey hardest hit by Afghanistan that divides the countries while in 2022, including funds invested jointly
the two giant earthquakes that struck on extending to China. with project partners and separately.
February 6, TASS quoted Daniil Martynov, Russia is set to significantly augment The contract for the development of the
an adviser to the Russian emergency its pipeline construction endeavours in ACG fields was signed on September 20,
situations minister said on January 9. the current year as part of its strategy to 1994 and will expire in 2024, but a new
Martynov said that apart from rescuers, diversify its oil and gas deliveries away contract for the development of the ACG
the Russian team also comprised of from the West and towards Asia and block, calculated until 2050, was signed
psychologists and canine detection the Middle East. Historically, Russia has on September 14, 2017. BP holds a 30.37%
handlers. relied primarily on pipelines to export its share in the ACG block, with the rest of the
On February 7, more than 100 rescue hydrocarbons, with the European Union equity participation held by SOCAR (25%),
workers from the Russian Emergencies being the largest recipient of its oil and MOL (9.57%), ExxonMobil (6.79%), ONGC
Ministry arrived in Turkey for search- gas. However, the EU's decision to halt the Videsh (2.31%), Inpex Corp. (9.31%),
and-rescue operations in the southeastern import of Russian oil and gas due to the ITOCHU Oil (3.65%), Equinor (7.27%),
province of Kahramanmaras. ongoing military conflict in Ukraine has and TPAO (5.73%).
The following day, a second plane with a prompted Russia to seek alternative markets The contract for the development of
group of rescuers and medics arrived. The for its resources. the Shah Deniz field was signed in Baku
Russian Emergencies Ministry’s contingent on June 4, 1996, with bp holding a 29.99%
in Turkey numbers over 150 personnel, share as the operator and the rest of the
reported TASS. Kazakhstan sets four-month ban equity participation held by LUKOIL
(19.99%), TPAO (19%), SOCAR (14.35%),
on exports of fuels NICO (10%), and CJSC "Cenub Qaz
Kazakhstan pipeline route Kazakhstan will introduce a complete Dehlizi" (6.67%). The participants in the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project
alternative gaining favour with ban on the export of petrol, diesel and include BP (30.1%), SOCAR (25%), MOL
(8.9%), Equinor (8.71%), TPAO (6.53%),
other fuels for four months starting from
Russia for gas deliveries to February 18, the Kazakh Finance Ministry ENI (5%), ExxonMobil (2.5%), Itochu
(3.4%), INPEX (2.5%), TotalEnergies (5%),
said in a statement.
Pakistan, India domestic fuel supplies and prevent and ONGC (2.36%). ™
The ban is being set to ensure sufficient
Proposals to pipe Russian gas to India shortages.
and Pakistan via a route that traverses The ban came days after the EU embargo

P18 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 07 15•February•2023