26.7.2007 by admin.

Bankers Petroleum set to expand in Albania

26/07/2007

A Canadian firm that has invested millions in Albania’s oil sector now promises to turn the country into an “upgraded oil exporter”.

By Robert C Austin for Southeast European Times — 26/07/07

Bankers Petroleum runs 220 of the 600 wells at the Patos-Marinza field. [File]

The privatisation of Albania’s oil refinery company, ARMO, has drawn considerable interest from the Canadian company Bankers Petroleum. The tender announcement — in the works since 2003 — is expected next year.

Art Agolli, the Canadian firm’s business development manager, says that if it wins the tender, Bankers Petroleum will “revamp the refinery and turn Albania into an upgraded oil exporter”.

ARMO owns the sole oil refinery in the country, and produces about 100,000 tonnes of diesel and benzene annually. It meets about 30% of oil consumption needs in the country. However, it is heavily subsidised and does not pay market value for oil. Based in Ballsh and Fier, ARMO was established with now outdated Soviet and Chinese technology, and its products do not meet EU standards.

Bankers Petroleum entered Albania’s oil production sector in May 2004. It signed a 25-year agreement to operate in Patos-Marinza field, the largest on-shore heavy oil field in Europe. At the time, production there had fallen to 600 barrels of oil per day, but has since grown nearly tenfold.

“As a result of synergies between the field and the upgrades, the Patos-Marinza field could do as much as 40,000 [barrels of oil per day]”, Agolli says. The company has invested between $70m and $80m. If its plans for expansion are approved, the investment is set to grow, making it one of the largest foreign investors in Albania.

There are about 600 wells at Patos-Marinza, with Bankers running about 220. The rest are operated by the state oil company, Albpetrol. Under its agreement with the state, Bankers plans to operate all the wells eventually. The company trucks its oil to the port of Vlora, where it is then shipped to Italy for refining.

“It is a challenge to deal with changing governments, but the business environment is good and getting better. Infrastructure and environmental issues remain a big concern for us,” Agolli says. As the company takes over the wells, it upgrades them and applies international environmental standards.

By 2008, Bankers hopes to be at 10,000 barrels of oil per day, operating an additional 130 wells annually.

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2007/07/26/feature-03 

Geschrieben in Economy - Wirtschaft | Drucken | 1 Kommentar »

26.7.2007 by admin.

Corruption suspect faces extradition to Croatia

26/07/2007

An Austrian judge has ruled that former Croatian Defence Minister Vladimir Zagorec can be sent back to his home country.

By Natasa Radic for Southeast European Times in Zagreb –26/07/07

By Natasa Radic for Southeast European Times in Zagreb –26/07/07

Vladimir Zagorec can be extradited to Croatia, an Austrian judge ruled on Wednesday (July 25th). The former defence minister has been charged in his home country with embezzlement and abuse of power.

In her ruling, Judge Christina Forstner of the Vienna provincial court said there are no legal arguments preventing the extradition. She said the evidence she received from Croatian prosecutors and judicial officials was sufficient, and that the Croatian judiciary is independent, ensuring Zagorec will receive a fair trial.

The ex-minister has already appealed Forstner’s decision, and will be allowed to remain in Vienna until a higher-level court decides on the case.

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Setimes

Geschrieben in Geschichte - History, Balkan (Englisch), Balkan | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »

26.7.2007 by admin.

Hilfskonferenz: 4,5 Millionen Iraker auf der Flucht

Wegen der anhaltenden Gewalt im Irak haben Millionen Menschen die Flucht ergriffen. In Jordanien wurde heute auf einer internationalen Konferenz darüber beraten, wie man den Vertriebenen helfen kann.

Wegen der anhaltenden Gewalt im Irak haben Millionen Menschen die Flucht ergriffen. In der jordanischen Hauptstadt Amman wurde heute auf einer internationalen Konferenz über Hilfsmaßnahmen beraten. Rund 4,5 Millionen irakische Vertriebene verzeichnet das UN-Flüchtlingshilfswerk (UNHCR) im In- und Ausland. Die Mehrzahl der Flüchtlinge lebt in den Nachbarstaaten Syrien und Jordanien. Nur wenige schaffen es bis in die Europäische Union. Indes stieg im vergangenen Jahr die Zahl der Asylanträge von Irakern in den Industrieländern um 77 Prozent an. Unter den Asylbewerbern in Deutschland ist der Irak einer der wichtigsten Herkunftsstaaten.

Schon während der Amtszeit des irakischen Machthabers Saddam Hussein flohen Millionen Iraker aus ihrem Land. Nach dem Sturz von Saddam Hussein kehrten in den Jahren 2003 bis 2005 nach UNHCR-Angaben 500.000 Flüchtlinge zurück. Die bis heute anhaltende Massenflucht begann nach Angaben von UNHCR-Sprecher Stefan Telöken im Februar 2006 mit dem Anschlag auf das schiitische Heiligtum in der Sunniten-Stadt Samarra im Februar 2006, der eine bis heute andauernde Welle der Gewalt zwischen den Religionsgruppen auslöste. Seitdem wurden laut UNHCR 750.000 Iraker vertrieben, jeden Monat kommen weitere 50.000 hinzu………………..

http://www.zeit.de/news/artikel/2007/07/26/2346678.xml 

Eine direkte Folge, der Verbrecher Politik der USA: 4,5 Millionen Einwohner, werden so durch den Bomben Terror, Mord Progrome der Amerikaner aus dem Lande getrieben. Auch Saddam war bekanntlich ein enger Verbündeter im Gas- und Mord Terror gegen den Iran.

Geschrieben in Welt News Spezial | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »

26.7.2007 by admin.

Bie sistemi i transmetimit, vendi dhe rajoni pa energji

Geschrieben in Kosovo-Albanien (Albanian) | Drucken | Keine Kommentare »