Page 23 - FSUOGM Week 22

FSUOGM
NEWS IN BRIEF
FSUOGM
by 46% in January-May to 20bn cubic metres, Ukraine’s state-run gas transit operator said on June 1.
Russian and Ukrainian gas firms signed a five-year deal in December safeguarding the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine, following five days of painstaking talks and a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
The operator said this year the transit could fall to an all-time low of 52-55 bcm this year. Last year, gas transits totalled almost 90 bcm.
CENTRAL ASIA & SOUTH CAUCASUS
Uzbekistan considering
raising excise duty tax for
imported oil products
Uzbek authorities are looking into the possibility of establishing a single excise
duty rate for imports of oil products and the country’s own petroleum products. The aim is to ensure equal payment terms for both local refineries and Kazakh and Russian suppliers, the Uzbek Finance Ministry said on May 27.
The measure would protect the domestic market for oil products from cheap foreign motor fuel, officials said. State-run oil and gas firm Uzbekneftegaz controls two major oil refineries and imports oil from Russia and Kazakhstan as its own oil production is
declining.
Uzbek producers currently pay an
excise tax of UZS250,000 per one tonne of gasoline A-92, while foreign suppliers pay 5% of the customs value of a given brand of gasoline or UZS121,500 per tonne.
Russia and Kazakhstan are experiencing a surplus of oil due to falling consumption caused by the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and exporters offer Uzbekistan petrol at prices that are 5%-10% lower than locally produced fuel..
Analysts late last year were surprised by Chevron’s announcement of a 25% cost hike for Tengiz.
Kazakhstan “not
considering” shutting down
largest oil field Tengiz
over coronavirus outbreak
among workers
Kazakh Energy Minister Nurlan Nogayev said on May 27 that a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak among workers will not prompt Kazakhstan to shut down oil production at the country’s largest oil field, Tengiz.
The statement followed Kazakhstan’s chief sanitary doctor Aizhan Yesmagambetova saying last week that Chevron-led Tengizchevroil, the field’s operator, might have to suspend operations if it failed to stop the spread of the virus.
“The matter of shutting down the field is not being considered,” Nogayev told a briefing.
Kazakhstan has confirmed 9,304 coronavirus infection cases, including 37 deaths. As of last week, there were 935 cases reported among Tengiz workers, according to Yesmagambetova’s statement.
Chevron said earlier in May that it was taking additional measures to ensure the field’s production remained unaffected by the outbreak..
Chevron demobilises
20,000 workers from Tengiz
field in Kazakhstan
Chevron is demobilising around 20,000 workers, or two thirds of the workforce, at Kazakhstan’s largest oil field, Tengiz, following a coronavirus outbreak where its workers reside, CEO Mike Wirth told investors during a virtual annual shareholders meeting on May 27.
The critical workers who remain at the remote site have seen their housing quarters spread out while testing and personal protective equipment requirements have been boosted.
“It’s a big project, a lot of people in a difficult and demanding location,” Wirth said. “It’s a big job, and I think they’re doing a fine job of dealing with a moving situation.”
The Tengiz project had nearly 30,000 workers two months ago, Wirth said.
Week 22 03•June•2020
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