Page 13 - FSUOGM Week 07 2022

FSUOGM NEWS IN BRIEF FSUOGM

servicing YuKTM in 2021 amounted to Kazakhstan are continuing with a strike Ukraine has been on the brink of a
$54mn, and capital costs $12mn. demanding better pay and work conditions, serious energy crisis all winter, although has
The contract for the development of the joining protesting workers at other energy thus far made it over half way through the
Shah Deniz field was signed in Baku on companies in the restive Mangystau Region, heating season without serious shortages
June 4, 1996, and ratified by the parliament RFE/RL reported on February 9. and blackouts. Compared to January last
on October 17 of the same year. The equity At the same time, around 1,000 workers year, the transit of natural gas through
participation of the parties in the contract at the Mangystau nuclear power plant have Ukraine in January 2022 decreased by 57%
is currently as follows: BP (operator, been rallying in the regional capital, Aktau, to 1.664bn cubic metres, reported the GTS
29.99%), SOCAR (21.02%), LUKOIL since February 7, similarly demanding of Ukraine. It is noted that the transit of
(19.99%), NICO (10%), TPAO (19% ). higher salaries and better working “blue fuel” to Slovakia had decreased by
Gas production from the Shah Deniz conditions. 53% to 1.04 bcm. The share of this direction
field began in December 2006. Currently, The Mangystau Region, especially in total transit is 62.5%. At the same time,
gas production from the Shah Deniz field the town of Zhanaozen, has been at the transit to Moldova increased by 1.3% to
is carried out from the Alpha platform epicentre of protests in Kazakhstan for 398mn cubic metres. In addition, transit to
as part of Stage 1 and from the Bravo years. Romania resumed in January with 116 mcm
platform as part of Stage 2. Dozens of women, meanwhile, rallied of gas, 24.6% less than in January 2021.
in front of Aktau city hall on February 8 Transit to Poland decreased by 66% to 110
demanding housing and social allowances mcm.
Head of SOCAR steps down for families with disabled members. The boost the capacity of the Polish section of
In addition, Gazprom has opted not to
women reportedly blocked a nearby main
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev moved street, only allowing traffic to resume on the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, as well as
Rovnag Abdullayev on February February 9 after city officials promised to additional transit capacity through Ukraine,
10 from president of SOCAR (State Oil address their demands. for February.
Company of Azerbaijani Republic) to Hundreds of Zhanaozen residents have Part of the relief for Ukraine’s energy
become Deputy Minister of Economy been rallying in the town for over a week situation has come in the form of help from
instead. Meanwhile, Rovshan Najaf was now, demanding jobs for local youth. the United States as well as other coal-
transferred from his former job as Minister The wave of Mangystau protests follows producing countries, following a Russian
of Economy to acting president of SOCAR, the countrywide civil unrest seen in early ban on exporting coal to Ukraine. A ship
as well as its first vice-president. January, which also initially kicked off in that delivered 45,000 tonnes of coal from
According to the decree, the number Zhanaozen. Colombia arrived in Ukraine, reported
of first vice-presidents in the State Oil DTEK Energy. The Panamax-class ship
Company (SOCAR) has been increased docked in the port of TIS and within the
from one to two. Thus, the number of Russian energy cutoff to coming days will replenish DTEK Energy
persons represented in the company's TPP storage facilities. It is noted that over
management has grown from 14 to 15 – Ukraine would be worse the last five months DTEK received 1.2mn
the president, two first vice presidents and tonnes of imported coal. To date, the
12 vice presidents. than tank attack – company has contracted for 858,000 tonnes
Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov of coal. Additional fuel shipments are
got a new first deputy as well. The new Baerbock expected to arrive in February and March.
first deputy Elnur Aliyev is known to be
his trusted man, who served alongside him German Foreign Minister Annalena
in previous posts; some local newspapers Baerbock described the danger of cutting Mongolia gives nod to
even reported him to be the first cousin off energy supplies from Russia to Ukraine
of the minister. This appointment didn't as “worse than a tank attack” on 8 February, Australian investors'
come as a surprise as he had been already Interfax Ukraine reported.
serving as deputy minister of economy 'It is also important for me that in our Gurvantes CBM project EIA
since May 13, 2020. actions we do not draw any scenarios and
Change in the leadership of SOCAR constantly talk about it. Germany makes a Australia’s Talon Energy as well as Telmen
is seen as Jabbarov's spread of influence, great contribution to the security of Ukraine Resource, Talon's partner in the Gurvantes
as he was already Chairman of the financially. An attack is not only possible XXXV coalbed methane (CBM) project
Supervisory Board of SOCAR. militarily, but also a cyber-attack, cutting off in Mongolia, have received government
energy supplies. This is worse than a tank approval for the project’s environmental
attack,' impact assessment (EIA), Talon has
Kazakh oil workers Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced.
Baerbock said at a press conference with
As a result of the EIA approval, Telmen
continue with rally for in Kyiv on 7 February. will mobilise to site within the coming
“We, as partners, wanted to make it clear
weeks to complete final site preparations,
better pay and working that we stand for the security of Ukraine, with the maiden Gurvantes XXXV drilling
programme expected to start in late
the sovereignty of Ukraine, we stand for
conditions the security of people. And therefore we, as February to early March.
The drilling programme will include the
partners, are ready for any scenarios, and
Hundreds of workers at the Burghylau oil this would have large-scale consequences completion of four fully tested cored holes
firm in the western town of Zhanaozen in for the economic plan,” she said. within the western portion of the Gurvantes

Week 07 16•February•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P13