17 February 2010
latest dates on shtokman
Despite some recent doubts about the immediate future of the field, the latest on the Shtokman project is that Russian companies are now bidding to build the platforms and rigs, and the various ships, barges and pontoons needed for the project.
прийm-тасс carried an article by one Dmitry Lyutyagin from Veles Capital who is optimistic about the long-term prospects for Gazprom. It is claimed that the company will have 32% of Europe’s gas market by 2020, despite the present competition from US shale-gas and other LNG sources such as Qatar.
Rosfin.com reports Medvedev’s comments that it is necessary to proceed very carefully and there is also set of new dates: pipeline gas by end of 2015 and LNG from 2014-2017.
Actually Medvedev is quoted as saying that ’нужно торопиться (в освоении шельфа) очень аккуратно’ – which is slightly confusing as ‘торопить’ – is to hurry, thus he seems to be saying that it is necessary ’to hurry accurately’. It is possible that Medvedev is coming over as the voice of caution against a chorus of views that say, basically, ‘press on’ – a view reinforced by his quoted assessment, referring to alternative energy sources, that, ‘А может быть этот шельф нам через 30 лет не понадобится в том виде, в каком он существует сегодня’ – i.e., ‘that it is possible that the shelf in 30 years might not be needed in the form which exists today’.
