The international security and its influence on the energy complex in the Caspian Sea region

Fuel and energy complex covers the field of mining and energy resources, processing, distribution and consumption of all types of energy. Central and Eastern Europe Caspian Sea region, which includes all of Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea near Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran is well developed and includes oil and gas industry electrical grounding of the thermal and hydropower, and also a large number of areas Coal and natural uranium in development.

Fuel and energy complex (FEC) refers to the area of mineral and energy resources production, processing, delivery and consumption of all types of energy. Central and Eastern European region that includes the Caspian All Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea near Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) is fairly well developed and includes oil and gas, energy industry land of thermal and hydropower, and also a great number of coal mines and natural uranium in development.

It is almost impossible to cover the whole range of issues related to the promotion of regional Why is FEC What we realized that the problems of mining and transportation of crude oil. In many aspects of the solution of these problems are determined by the level of security internationally and regionally.

It is well known that the Caspian Sea and surrounding regions have large reserves of crude oil. According to the findings of Russian experts and foreign oil resources are predicted from 15 to 22 billion tonnes Gas – 12-18 billion cubic meters, and the inventory of the tests: 8.4 million tonnes of petroleum (5.8% of world reserves) 7.4 trillion cubic m of natural gas (approximately 5% of world reserves). Some sufficient reserves of oil tested belongs to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, then follow Russia and Turkmenistan. Most of the proven natural gas stocks in a given region belongs to Turkmenistan (2.9 trillion cubic meters) and the Russia of the Caspian Sea (2.5 trillion cubic meters). Except that sufficient gas reserves found in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and without access to the Caspian Sea.

In the Caspian Sea region in Kazakhstan plays an important role in the production quantity Oil and oil reserves of experience. The second and third place in the level of production of oil from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Explorer main gas fields Turkmenistan is the second and third ranking in the natural gas production in Kazakhstan and Russia. Iran does no region of the Caspian crude oil, but it is the construction of oil rigs.

Naturally, the Caspian oil and natural gas can not be an alternative to supplies for of the Persian Gulf region, Saudi Arabia has a quarter of world oil stocks. But they can stabilize the overall situation in this market without doubt positively affect the development of world economy and reduce dependence on OPEC and Russia.

The economic welfare of the Caspian Sea oil oil-exporting countries (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan) depends heavily on the corresponding world prices. Under conditions of deep economic crisis, global demand for oil and natural gas has declined, which is a reason to keep prices relatively low (for example, about $ 50 for a barrel of crude oil). At the same time, the EU remains very interested in diversification of commodity flows, especially after another The gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine in early 2009.

With the exception of Europe considers that the reserves of North Sea oil runs out in 10-15 years, which has increased the share of Caspian oil from 1-7% in total energy consumption in Germany in recent years. This is also required by the application to maintain and develop its own oil production industry. As a result, companies such as St. t of Norwegian oil (Sweden), British Petroleum (Great Britain), Total (France) and Eni (Italy) to expand its operations in the Caspian region.

Along with these exporting countries, a number of states in the region Act as a transit country for hydrocarbon oils. In particular, Georgia, which has oil almost no own stock and natural gas is a vital interest in the transit of Caspian energy resources through the Baku-Supsa and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum. Azerbaijan is also interested in the transit of crude oil in it would become a kind of doors in Europe from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

However, the main flow of Caspian oil and natural gas through the Federation Russia. In particular, existing pipelines stronger regional fixed in the territory of Russia – the pipeline of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). The pipeline connects the west fields in Kazakhstan, including large and Tengiz, with the Russian port of Novorossiysk. At first its capacity includes 28 million tons of oil a year, 22 million tons have been home from the Caspian Sea. At present, capacity has increased to 33 million tonnes.

The Russian Federation has an extensive pipeline system oil and gas, already planned in Soviet times and mainly focused on export.

And in 2009 is expected to begin construction of a pipeline along the Caspian regional territory of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia. Up to 20 million cubic meters of natural gas per year will be transported by pipeline from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

IRI also plans to become a transit, for example, natural gas from Turkmenistan. At the time of Tehran buys annually in this country for their own plant of more than 8 million cubic meters of gas. In case of increased supply and related infrastructure development gas could be sent to Europe (which is the shortest means of transport) and South Asia.

In addition, Tehran is interested by extending called SWAP operation, when the oil is supplied by Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in the Caspian port of Neka (IRI) is replaced by an amount Iranian oil equivalent in the Persian Gulf ports.

Now, this transition is a little over 100,000 barrels per day, but there is a capacity TP potential increase up to 1 million barrels.

The same could be done with the Russian or Kazakh natural gas could do if the territory Azerbaijan.

After describing the situation in the area of mining operations and transport of hydrocarbons in the Caspian Sea region first we proceed to examine its interconnections with the level of international security. A demonstrative example of the IRI is the latter which is a paradoxical situation in the area gas. Holding second place in the world in natural gas supply (16% of the world), Iran, in practice has the capacity to export. Iranian gas Turkey exported only (1.1 million cubic meters per year). At the same time, natural gas purchase from Turkmenistan, and gas supplies to Armenia together Cons supplies of electricity (about 3.3 million kilowatt / h). In general, due to the very tense relations between the IRI and the West on security matters. In Consequently, the flow of substantial investments and modern technologies in the Iranian gas industry is most often blocked. Implicitly, the same materials that are prohibited if the area can be used in engineering or nuclear missiles.

But international (regional) security mainly influences the transport of hydrocarbons Given the high cost crude oil and gas major. The ROI of such projects are very long term, so investors as a rule not to attend serious risks in the security field.

Let us demonstrate this conclusion by two examples.

In 1995, former President Saparmurat Niyazov Turkmenistan and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan has signed an agreement on developing the technical and economic evaluation of the pipeline Trans-Afghanistan, which was scheduled to deliver gas from Turkmenistan Dovletabad Field (stocks are estimated at between 1.7 and 4.5 trillion cubic meters) for South Asia. Later calculations have shown the total length of 1680 km pipeline will be (in the territory of Turkmenistan – 170 km, Afghanistan – 830 km, and Pakistan – Approximately 400 km). The amount of the project was estimated at four billion dollars for the annual capacity of 30 million cubic meters per year.

At the same time, the U.S. Contradictions were not forcing them to stop the Taliban in Afghanistan, and that's why in Turkmenistan in October 1995, the U.S. company Unocal and Saudi Saudi Delta Oil Co. has signed a contract on the construction of the Trans-Afghan pipeline.

He then signed an agreement for the construction of the pipeline capacity projecting up to 259 million tonnes of oil per year to a gas line in parallel. However, later, a question on oil transport, mainly Kazakhstan, has been suspended for an indefinite period.

In 1997, the International Consortium for Central Asia Gas Pipeline Ltd. (CentGas) was created to meet the contract. Included Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Unocal, and INPEX ITOCHO Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japan) and Hyundai Engineering & Co. Conctruction, Ltd. (South Korea). However, in 1998 talibs provide shelter for the leader of the Islamic terrorist organization Al-Qaeda of Osama bin Laden. Consequently, the U.S. company Unocal was essential to withdraw from the consortium.

Trans-Afghan pipeline has the breath of "second" and after the defeat of the Taliban in the spring of 2002 when, during the meeting leaders of Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan to a new agreement on the construction of Trans-Afghan pipeline was signed again. Asian Development Bank sponsored the design of the Technology and Economic Assessment, and in 2006, India joined the project as an observer. But the project was initiated due to an extremely serious situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan Belujistan, and also due to the refusal of Delhi, major investors, to become dependent on Islamabad.

The second example is the situation around achieving Nabucco – the main pipe gas from Central Asia to EU countries. Its length can be up to 3300 km, and the ability to project – 31 million cubic meters per year. Consortium building pipeline includes the following companies: OMV Gas GmbH (Austria), BOTAS (Turkey), Bulgargaz (Bulgaria), Transgaz SNTGN SA (Romania), MOL Transport Company Natural Gas Ltd. (Hungary) and RWE AG (Germany).

In 2004, the Nabucco pipeline project has been designed to deliver Iranian gas field, "Go south "(which has influenced its name). However, as the Iranian nuclear problem is worse, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan areas were considered the main sources natural gas, which was scheduled to deliver in Azerbaijan along the banks of the Trans-Caspian pipeline. But there was also a serious problem due to the uncertainty of the situation Caspian Sea.

In 2002, Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement on dividing the northern Caspian region of national sectors. Its south are integrated. And after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov came to power in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan began to improve relations and commitment on the sea state became more real, then Iran with only 11% of the Caspian Sea coast continues to insist on 20% partition Caspian Sea. This led to an armed conflict at sea (2002) between Azerbaijan and Iran, where Iranian military vessels hampered the exploration of oil reserves in areas with high potential "Araz", "Alov" and "Sharga" in the southern Caspian and forced the ship to explore out of the region.

Further exploration of these areas has never done.

Objectively, neither Moscow nor Tehran is interested in solving the problem the status of the Caspian Sea. States as against third countries subject to the military presence in the Caspian Sea region, mainly in the United States. Also try to reduce Western influence in the region. At the same time, Tehran is actively promoting the environmental problems of the unique marine land, flora and fauna of the Caspian Sea region.

In general, we must recognize that the probability of realization of Nabucco is still low, and this is not only uncertainty the status of the Caspian Sea, but also by the absence of significant additional opportunities for exporting Central Asian States that are considering building of a regional Caspian pipeline. In addition, when Turkey and Azerbaijan suspended its participation in this project that the tragic events of August 2008 the Caucasus has highlighted the risks in the South Caucasus in the transportation of crude oil, out of control, the conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Therefore, the state of international law (regional) security affects the production of sufficient oil and natural gas in the Caspian Sea region. It also affects delivery media. The situation is worse due to the uncertain status of the Caspian Sea and because of the intense activity of these regional actors like the United States, China, EU Europe, Japan and Turkey. So far, the military and political positions in Russia have been companies in the region of the Caspian Sea, allowing the pursuit of its own national interests in relations with Iran.

But on the other hand, the influence of the profits of Western power, Russia will cooperate with him, and at first to preserve internal stability and here to ensure the required security level.

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Takhti: A Modern Iranian Hero (Video By The British Museum)

Iranian History and Politics $318.63 This book contains the most detailed and comprehensive statement of Homa Katouzians theory of arbitrary state and society in Iran, and its applications to Iranian history and politics, both modern and traditional. Every chapter is a study of its own specific topics while being firmly a part of the whole argument. The discussions include close comparisons with the history of Europe to demonstrate the diversities of the logic and sociology of Iranian history from their European counterparts. Being the first modern theory of Iranian history, it is highly regarded by Iranian historians and social scientists, especially as it has helped to resolve many of the anomalies resulting from the application of traditional theories. Author: Katouzian, Homa/ Katouzian, Dr Ho Series Title: Routledgecurzon/Bips Persian Studies Series Binding Type: Hardcover Number of Pages: 304 Publication Date: 2003/01/01 Language: English Dimensions: 9.70 x 6.14 x 0.82 inches