Russia’s Gazprom Neft plans oil trading with IraqMarch 2, 2012 - 19:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian energy giant Gazprom, may start oil trading operations in Iraq in the second quarter of 2012, General Director Alexander Dyukov said on Friday, March 2, RIA Novosti reported. "We plan [to start] trading operations in the second quarter," Dyukov told reporters, adding that the future trading was not linked with the company's production at Iraq's Badra oil field. "These two projects are not linked with each other at all," he said. The company's Deputy General Director Vadim Yakovlev said in early February that Gazprom Neft planned to sell 2.5 million tons of oil per year in Iraq. The Russian company acts as an operator of the Badra deposit with a 30-percent stake in the project. Other participants include South Korea's Kogas with 22.5 percent, Malaysia's Petronas with 15 percent and Iraq's state-owned Oil Exploration Company with 25 percent in the project. Badra's reserves are estimated at about three billion barrels of oil. The production launch is scheduled for 2013 to reach 170,000 barrels per day or about 8.5 million tons per year by 2017 and maintain this level for seven years. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |