Kazakhstan to auction exploration rights to some oil, gas fieldsJanuary 17, 2014 - 16:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Energy-rich Kazakhstan plans to auction exploration rights to eight or nine oil and gas fields in the Central Asian nation this year, a senior official said, according to RIA Novosti. “Last year, after a certain period of moratorium, we announced tenders for three geological exploration blocks. This year we plan to announce a tender for another 8-9 blocks,” Oil and Gas Minister Uzakbai Karabalin said. Karabalin said the exploration work would help to further increase Kazakhstan’s resource base. Oil production in Kazakhstan reached 1.73 million barrels per day in 2012, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2012. Kazakhstan produced 19.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas over the same period, according to BP figures. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |