Senator Lugar says Russia wants Arctic energy

[december]

U.S. Senator Lugar says Russia wants Arctic energy reserves

http://img.rian.ru/images/6558/60/65586011.jpg



WASHINGTON, May 16 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar said Russia is aspiring to take control over potential energy reserves in the Arctic Ocean at the expense of U.S. interests.

The senator, known for his anti-Russian statements, urged the U.S. authorities to join the struggle for the polar oil and gas resources by ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The issue has acquired importance in view of dwindling global energy resources. Experts forecast that oil reserves on land would soon be exhausted and the only available fields will be in Persian Gulf and on deep sea shelves.

Lugar said Russia had claimed the right to develop the reserves, which could become more accessible due to ice melting in climate change. The Russian government is expected to meet this week to discuss hydrocarbon production on the sea.

The U.S. parliamentarian's warnings followed a statement by President George W. Bush Tuesday, which called on the Senate to ratify the convention.

Lugar said the convention had been adopted in Cold War times to protect national interests against the Soviet Union and aggressively developing countries. If ratified, the document will grant Washington control over the vast energy and fish wealth lying 200 miles off the American coast, he said.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20070516/65556146.html

[december]

Looks like the Illuminati are upset about Russia's plans... ;)

:D

http://www.condorjourneys-adventures.com/images/arctic_northpole_pole.jpg

http://www.jaunted.com/files/3/north_pole_tourism.jpg

http://www.geoex.com/admin/upload/photos/690_NORTHPOLE_trip-photo.jpg

[december]

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3860

Who is Richard Lugar?

Ah! Another Dick. Richard Green "Dick" Lugar is the Senator of Indiana (http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2172), the incredibly loomie-associated state.

http://www.globalfailure.com/images/dickandangelina.jpg
The newly admitted member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Angelina Jolie, and Dick Lugar

Amongst a whole bunch of predictable things, which becomes redundant after a while, Dick is an Eagle Scout and also became a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity whilst at Denison University. You know how this symbolism stuff fascinates me...so here goes...

http://www.globalfailure.com/images/beta2.jpg

Their open motto is: "Firmam Consensus Facit", which means "Worthy of the Highest, Three Great Principles"

This is a secretive fraternity that withholds certain secrets for it's initiates only. What is it with all these secrets??

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3860

[tinmenace]

Yes, Dick Lugar was named as a possible replacement to Paul Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank.

[december]

Yes, Dick Lugar was named as a possible replacement to Paul Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank.

So, the World Bank is going to be his tool against Russia?...
He (and the Illuminati) can always try....

[tinmenace]

I'm not sure, December. I don't know what their agenda is, and if I did I would share it with everyone...but I don't.

At the end of the day it doesn't really matter because they can't stop the spiritual changes that are happening. This are going to change and there's nothing they can do about it.

[december]

I'm not sure, December. I don't know what their agenda is, and if I did I would share it with everyone...but I don't.

Well...
I am sure you know the way the Illuminati media present events in Russia and I am sure you know what BBC, CNN and the rest say about Putin...
according to the Western (Illuminati media) Putin is "bad man" so to say... :)
And of course, according to the Illuminati, there is no democracy in Putins Russia and They (the Illuminati) are trying very hard to help Russian people...

Well, do they really care about russian people or they are tring to achieve another goal...

____________________________


Gas Union of Three

16/ 05/ 2007



MOSCOW. (Dmitry Orlov for RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan for two reasons. First, he wanted to set up a partnership of the three countries to build a gas pipeline north of the Caspian Sea.
And second, he needed to prevent an anti-Russian alliance of European countries in the energy sector.

In my opinion, he achieved both these goals.
Kazakhstan, a major player and a major influence on the solution of many problems on the agenda of the Warsaw energy summit, did not attend it. And the agreement on the bypass Caspian gas pipeline, which sceptics describe as a memorandum of intent because it has not been formalized yet, will play a positive role.

It is difficult, and unnecessary now, to calculate the exact gains of the Russian budget and gas monopoly Gazprom, which will coordinate the project together with its regional and subsidiary companies.

The most important thing is that the countries across which energy is or can be transported, especially the former Soviet republics and East European countries, are fighting tooth and nail for their status as transit countries.

In fact, they are fighting for their national interests, as transit means not only additional budget revenues, but also control over the pipeline and therefore an opportunity to exert political influence on the exporting and recipient countries.

Energy-rich Russia, which is a transit country and a major player on the energy market, will benefit tremendously if it gains access to that mechanism. It is therefore not coincidental that the House of Representatives of U.S. Congress has passed a bill limiting cooperation in the commodities sphere, which is apparently spearheaded against Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

The Untied States is aware of the dangers coming from such alliances and their projects.
When speaking about the allegedly unfriendly moves in the energy sphere, Russia and its allies can argue that their agreements on forming a union of oil and gas producers and exporters are not negative per se.

Some experts say the union will not infringe on the interests of third countries, because this is not its inherent purpose. But the interests of producers and exporters, on the one hand, and consumers, on the other, will always differ.

It makes sense that consumers have been alarmed by the exporters' decision to form a union in order to coordinate their policy, and by their proposal of a route alternative to the trans-Caspian pipeline supported by the European Union. But then, such decisions always affect somebody's interests.

There is a political side to the three presidents' meeting and their energy agreements. First, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan reaffirmed their allied relations with Russia. And second, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev opted for a harsh move: he could have gone to Warsaw, but decided instead to confer with Vladimir Putin and Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.

The EU and the U.S. were most likely shocked by his decision.

But the Turkmen president took a much calmer stand at the Warsaw summit, where he spoke about possible cooperation with the EU and other power centers, therefore keeping windows of opportunity open for his country. At the same time, Berdymukhammedov also supported the idea of allied relations with Russia.

In short, the union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan forged to implement the Caspian bypass project is a political coalition, as evidenced by the agreements they have signed.

Dmitry Orlov is director general of the Russian Agency of Political and Economic Communications and member of the RIA Novosti Expert Council.


http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20070516/65598951.html

[december]

Yes, Dick Lugar was named as a possible replacement to Paul Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank.


tinmenace, but lightcodes reports that it is Tony Blair who will be the next World Bank President:




Tony Blair's candidacy is "being discussed"

There is a possibility, yet to be confirmed, that the next president of the World Bank could be a high-flying British subject, citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair, another notorious war criminal, who visibly, despite his affinities, is not a US citizen, is being considered for the position of World Bank President.

"Rumours have circulated in past days that outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a loyal Bush ally who made a farewell trip to the White House this week, could be tapped for the post."



http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=CHO20070519&articleId=5704



This wouldnt be surprising, as Blair is a Knights Templar.

Chris


http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3986

[tinmenace]

tinmenace, but lightcodes reports that it is Tony Blair who will be the next World Bank President:


Yes, you notice that I mentioned that at the very beginning of my Changing of the Guard - FF NWO (http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3860) thread ;)

[december]

Yes, you notice that I mentioned that at the very beginning of my Changing of the Guard - FF NWO (http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3860) thread ;)

True. I didn't notice it.
Thank you for the info, tinmenace. :)

http://www.mosnews.com/files/6241/Gazprom_eng.gif

Gazprom says gas exports to Europe up 5.4 bln cu m y-o-y in 2006 -1

22/ 05/ 2007


MOSCOW, May 22 (RIA Novosti) - Energy giant Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] raised natural gas exports to Europe by 5.4 billion cubic meters year-on-year to 161.5 billion in 2006, the state-controlled monopoly said Tuesday.

Supplies to former Soviet republics, including the Baltic states, rose by 24.4 billion cubic meters on the previous year to 101 billion, the company said in a news release.

On the domestic market, the energy giant sold 316 billion cubic meters of gas, or by 9.3 billion more than in 2005.

Gazprom's gas output expanded by 1 billion cubic meters year-on-year in 2006 to 556 billion cubic meters, the company said.

Gas condensate production totaled 11.4 million metric tons in 2006 against 11.5 million metric tons in 2005, while oil output stood at 34 million metric tons (250 million barrels) against 9.5 million metric tons (70 million barrels) in 2005, the statement said.

Gazprom said it augmented its proven gas reserves (Categories A+B+C1 under Russia classification) by 719.9 billion cubic meters in 2006 to 29.85 trillion cubic meters.

http://en.rian.ru/business/20070522/65913248.html

[december]

Russia, Austria to open gas storage facility - Putin

23/ 05/ 2007


VIENNA, May 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Austria will open a large natural gas storage facility with a holding capacity of 2.4 billion cubic meters near Salzburg, in western Austria, Thursday, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

"Tomorrow, we will open a large gas storage facility near Salzburg able to hold 2.4 billion cubic meters of gas - a third of Austria's demands. That is a very good step toward the stabilization of our energy relations," Putin told journalists in Austria.

The Russian leader praised bilateral relations, saying that "Austrian partners trust Russian partners much more than vice versa, because Austrian investment in Russia is double Russian investment in Austria."

In September 2006, Russian energy giant Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] extended contracts to supply gas to Austria from 2012 to 2027. In line with concluded long-term contracts, Gazprom will ensure deliveries of about 7 billion cubic meters of gas annually until 2027, the amount Austria needs.

According to Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko, there are some 1,200 Austrian companies and 500 joint ventures currently operating in Russia, and bilateral trade between the two countries grew 45% in 2006, to $5 billion.

Putin said Russia and Austria have achieved significant results in trade and economic cooperation, adding that investment cooperation is on the rise and is becoming "a two-way street."

Putin also said Russia has practically resolved all problems with Russian energy transiting countries.

"The problems are not in our country, but with transit countries that want to use their unique position to get unilateral advantages outside of current market relations on the basis of some preferences remaining since Soviet times. We believe it is unjust, and we are working with these partners, and on the whole we have practically agreed with everyone," the Russian leader said.

Moscow's reliability as Europe's main energy supplier was questioned in early January when a dispute between Russia and neighboring Belarus led to a three-day interruption of oil deliveries to Poland, Germany and other European consumers.

At the time, Minsk imposed a transit fee on Europe-bound crude exports in retaliation for a hike in the natural gas price Moscow charged Belarus. Moscow accused Minsk of illegally tapping the transit pipeline, and shut down oil deliveries until an agreement was reached in emergency negotiations.

A similar situation occurred early last year with Ukraine.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070523/65988276.html

[december]

Russia's Northern Sea Route: Just a dotted line on the map?

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/08/15/russia.submarine.04/russia.north.pole.severomor.jpg

23/ 05/ 2007


MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Maxim Krans) - Debates over the Northern Sea Route, a shipping lane from the Atlantic to the Pacific along the coast of northern Russia, have been going on for many years.

Local residents are sounding the alarm, scientists and journalists are crossing swords, and even MPs are worried about this problem, unable to take a nap in their comfy chairs. Russia's State Council, an advisory body consisting of the country's regional leaders, and the Sea College discussed it again at their May meeting in Murmansk. Will this standstill be overcome at long last?

A scrap heap, so typical of the Russian north, stretches from the Apapelgino airport to Pevek. It is littered with rusty boats and barrels that once held diesel oil, skeletons of cars and even the remains of a semi-dismantled Yak-40 aircraft, battered by the southern winds and snowstorms.

The town is buried in a silence that is pierced only by the penetrating cries of seagulls. Its streets are deserted. Stuck in permafrost at the bottom of a hill, the buildings display the black sockets of empty windows. When I was in Pevek in the late 1990s, its population consisted of 12,000 people; now only 4,000 are left. The town's few plants are working at half-capacity. Russia no longer needs the tin that was produced in a land whose praises were once sung by the renowned Russian author Oleg Kuvayev.

The world's northernmost port is also empty. At one time, up to 20 ships gathered at a time in its roadstead. Now as many come to the harbor during the entire navigation season, and that largely owing to gold miners.

Formerly a major transshipment point of the Northern Sea Route, Pevek graphically reflects the disastrous situation that has engulfed the entire unique route from the island of Novaya Zemlya to the Bering Strait. In the past 15 years, the route, encompassing six seas, has sunk into complete decay.

The programs for the development of this enormous area were curtailed with the start of market reforms after the fall of the Soviet Union. Many major plants in the north-east ground to a halt. Timber exports via the Igarka River virtually stopped. The production of non-ferrous metals, which was largely the backbone of the northern economy, took a dive. As a result, cargo transportation by the Northern Sea Route dwindled by four times and became unprofitable. It was eventually reduced to rare coastal journeys to supply the locals with food and other necessities.

Deprived of government support, the once powerful ice-breaking fleet lost its glory. Out of eight nuclear-powered ships, five have passed their service life. The last ship, 50th Anniversary of Victory, which was shown with pride to President Vladimir Putin in May, was built in 1989. In several years, it will be the only one left.

Academician Alexander Granberg, who has taken part in many high-altitude expeditions, said on this score: "The entire infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route, including polar aviation, ice surveying, communications, and meteorological and hydrographic services, is in a state of a crisis caused both by economic factors and the short-sighted policy of the government. If we do not start immediately reviving the Arctic transportation system, voyages on the Northern Sea Route will be led by the Japanese or the Americans."

This scenario is quite plausible. Many countries have staked their claims to this transportation artery. The American Council at the UN University called the Arctic a potential breeding ground for international conflicts.

This is the situation. We knew from school textbooks that the sea lane stretching along the former Soviet coast from the Atlantic to the Pacific and up to the North Pole belongs to us. On all maps, it clearly follows the meridians, making only one curve in the Barents Sea. We have been disputing it with Norway for more than 30 years. It is worth the trouble - by some estimates gas reserves on the disputed shelf are as large as the Shtokman deposit.

Both Russia and Norway are enthusiastically searching for a compromise. Renowned Norwegian scientist Willy Ostreng believes we only have a few more years to settle the issue, that is, before the main hydrocarbon consumers - the United States and China - make it to the Arctic and start dictating their terms.

There are grounds for such apprehensions. The Chinese have opened a research station on Norway's Spitsbergen Island and transferred the Snow Dragon ice- breaker to it from the Antarctic. The United States has also become markedly more active. Just recently, Deputy Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Richard Lugar urged the United States to ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in order to counterbalance Moscow's claims to polar energy resources.

In the last few years, other countries, some of them not even northern, have been also been eyeing the territories that we have considered ours since times immemorial. Still others have called into doubt the principle of dividing up the Arctic pie, which was cut into five pieces way back in the 1920s. The reason for these claims is obvious - the shelf of the northern seas accounts for up to a quarter of the world's hydrocarbon reserves.

Incidentally, the Convention on the Law of the Sea allows us to put this dispute to rest and expand our 200-mile zone legally, but only if we prove that the underwater Lomonosov and Mendeleyev ridges are direct continuations of Russian land. Five years ago, a special UN commission dismissed Russia's arguments as invalid. Now we will have to carry out a second survey.

These territorial disputes have had a tremendous impact on the importance of the Northern Sea Route, which is quite understandable. The country that dominates this sea lane will dictate its terms to the developers of the shelf deposits and will see the biggest gains from the transportation of raw materials to the Pacific and the Atlantic. These include billions of tons of oil and trillions of cubic meters of gas, not to mention other minerals in which the local lands abound.

It seems that everyone in Russia agrees that it is time to restore the Northern Sea Route and revive the economy of the Extreme North. We will then have both cargoes and vessels to carry them. At the Murmansk meeting, President Putin suggested establishing a national Arctic council to address this issue. This is a good idea, and it could work, unless it gets bogged down in red tape like a bill on the Northern Sea Route submitted to the State Duma in 2000. If this happens again, this sea lane will remain for us just a dotted line on the map.

http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20070523/65989859.html

[december]

LUKoil, Gazprom Neft to set up joint venture

25/ 05/ 2007


MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - The heads of Russia's largest oil companies, LUKoil [RTS: LKOH] and Gazprom Neft [RTS: SIBN], signed Friday a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint venture, LUKoil said in a statement.

Vagit Alekperov of LUKoil and Alexander Dyukov of Gazprom Neft agreed to carry out joint oil and gas projects to obtain mineral licenses and conduct geological prospecting on licensed areas in Russia. LUKoil will control 49% in the joint venture and Gazprom Neft the remaining 51%, and they will share control of the company.

LUKoil CEO Alekperov said: "The memorandum of understanding... is an effective mechanism for mutually advantageous cooperation between large Russian oil companies, which have a strong production and financial potential to implement large projects in oil and gas exploration."

LUKoil and Gazprom Neft signed a general agreement on strategic partnership for 2005-2014 in March 2005.

http://en.rian.ru/business/20070525/66097868.html

http://www.mosnews.com/files/7310/lukoilstorage.jpg

Largest oil company in Russia with over 10 trillion barrels in proven reserves, fully integrated from exploration and drilling to distribution and retail.

www.lukoil.com

http://www.expert.ru/images/online/09/gazpromneft.jpg

http://www.gazprom-neft.ru/index-eng.php