News
Publish date: September 16, 2005
News
Representatives of Gazprom say that the final partners will be announced in the last quarter of the year. Gazprom intends to keep 51 percent of shares in the field. The Shtokman field contains as much as 3,2 trillion m3 of gas and could become a vital supplier of hydrocarbons to the US.
Most experts did believe that both the two Norwegian companies would be among the preferred companies. Statoil and Hydro have sophisticated offshore technology and have long lobbied the Gazprom company for a share of Shtokman. If the Norwegian companies end of among the 2-3 final partners in the project, they will be able to link experiences and assets in the Norwegian North to the Russian side, BarentsObserver reports.
ConocoPhillips was also among the favourites for the short-list. For some, it is more of a surprise that the French Total and Chevron are on the list. If Total is chosen to be a partner at the Shtokman, the company will be a major foreign company in the Northwest Russian oil industry. The company already operates the Kharyaga oil field in the Timano-Pechora province.
An accident aboard numerous Volgoneft oil tankers in the Kerch in mid December clearly show what can happen to aged ships when they are operated in bad weather—and when economic and military objectives are prioritized over the lives of crews and environmental safety.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
A visit last week by Vladimir Putin and a Kremlin entourage to Astana, Kazakhstan sought in part to put Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, on good footing with local officials.