New Era For Gazprom, As Gas Giant's Fortunes Plummet
Gazprom's pipeline network, a large part of it in Russia, is also aging and in need of upgrading. As "The "Moscow Times" noted on May 27, "No other company has so many explosions on major pipelines."
Q+A-Exclusive Analysis experts on Russia's oil, mine sector
In order to finance all its new projects (LNG initiatives, development of Yamal and Eastern Siberian deposits and the Pre-Caspian, Nord and South Stream pipelines) Gazprom would have to spend $30 billion annually for the foreseeable future. Even at times of high oil prices, Gazprom's investment programme rarely exceeded $4 billion. With $60 billion debt ($10 billion due in 2009) and exports halved because of the fall in demand, it is in no position to continue expanding. More to the point, major Russian banks' credit lines with Gazprom have reached their limits. It is possible that Gazprom will postpone development of capital-intensive Yamal and Eastern Siberian deposits and will concentrate on Shtokman, Nord Stream and South Stream projects, which are also politically significant for the Kremlin.
Nord Stream, Matthias Warnig (codename "Arthur") and the Gazprom Lobby
The files list a number of targets Warnig - "Arthur" was assigned to spy upon. These ranged from a report he submitted in May, 1987 which contain documents about the energy business in West Germany, to a report dated December 8, 1987 about the policies of enterprise management in the West. He also submitted reports about biotech research in the West, computer technology and dozens of other reports mainly dealing with industrial espionage.
Warnig's career was furthered by his alleged relationship with KGB Lieutenant-Colonel Vladimir Putin in Dresden. According to German press reports, the two men were allegedly collaborating on recruiting West German citizens to work for the KGB according to Warnig's former colleagues.
Poland will take control over cleaning up Baltic Sea
A report prepared by Polish experts about ecological dangers in Baltic Sea could jeopardize a German and Russian initiative to build an underwater gas pipe called Nordstream. If this project was to be carried out it could free thousand tons of chemicals sunk there during a World War II. - We have to prepare a report that will stop Gazprom. We need to do it quickly" - said Marcin Libicki, a former European MP, who was the first one to demand independent enviormental expertise. He managed to establish a baltic coallition against Nordstream.
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