Russian Utility Eyes 700-Million-Euro Kyoto Windfall

United Energy Systems CEO Anatoly Chubais.

Gazprom Says Gas Production Could Reach 670 Bln CU M In 2020
Moscow, June 14 (RIA Novosti) - Gazprom could produce 670 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually by 2020, 14% more than previously planned, a deputy board chairman of the Russian energy giant said Thursday. "If the market situation is positive or very positive, we could reach this production level," Alexander Ananenkov said. Total natural gas output in 2010 is planned at a maximum of 560 billion cubic meters, but could be raised to 570 billion cubic meters if necessary, Ananenkov said. The official said that the value of the company's current hydrocarbon reserves are estimated at $182.5 billion, excluding oil subsidiary Gazprom Neft, whose reserves are worth $24 billion. Including Gazprom Neft, the aggregate value of Gazprom's oil and gas reserves stands at $206.5 billion, he said. Ananenkov also said natural gas output at the Shtokman natural gas deposit off Russia's Arctic coast could reach 94 billion cubic meters a year. The giant Shtokman field holds an estimated 3.2 trillion cubic meters of natural gas and 31 million metric tons of gas condensate in the Barents Sea, where Gazprom plans to build a liquefied natural gas plant. Some $12-14 billion will be invested in the project's first phase, and production will begin in 2011. The Shtokman deposit is the only source of natural gas for the ambitious Nord Stream gas pipeline that will link Russia to Germany along the Baltic seabed.

by Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) Jun 15, 2007
Russia's electricity monopoly United Energy Systems hopes to attract investment worth 700 million euros under the Kyoto Protocol to combat global warming, CEO Anatoly Chubais said on Thursday. But he also issued a warning to consumers that they would have to foot the bill for technology needed to limit emissions within Russia, where electricity production has been booming.

"Our aim is to attract no less than 700 million euros (934 million dollars) on account of the Kyoto protocol," Chubais told a conference on Friday on his company's environmental policy.

But the company, whose subsidiaries account for 25 percent of Russia's carbon dioxide output, will need far more financing to keep its emissions from growing, he warned.

"To seriously put the question of ecology on Russia's agenda, we must seriously put forward the question of its price for the population and for industry."

"Nothing is free. Ecology costs money.... And the consumer always pays" either directly or through taxes, he said.

The protocol's mechanisms allow companies in the West to invest in carbon emission reductions in foreign companies to offset part of their own carbon output.

Russia hopes to attract major investment to reduce carbon emissions due to the potential to reduce output from its inefficient industry and the fact that the economic collapse of the early 1990s made Russia's Kyoto targets more achievable.

Russia has a shortage of natural gas for domestic electricity production due to exports to Europe, Chubais said, leaving Russian generators to use oil and coal, which emit significantly more carbon dioxide.

This will lead to a "radical worsening of the situation with carbon emissions" in Russia unless there is a serious move to new cleaner technologies, he warned, with the percentage of coal used for generation set to grow from 23 percent to 32 percent.

Chubais welcomed recent government moves to implement a mechanism for companies to attract funds for carbon reductions under Kyoto, but said a delay of three years after Russia ratified the protocol could impede its efforts.

Source: Agence France-Presse

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ENERGY TECH

Chinese Officials Say Ditch The Suit And Slash Energy Use

Beijing (AFP) June 14, 2007
Chinese officials have revealed their latest weapon against excessive energy use -- encouraging office workers to ditch business suits in favour of T-shirts, state media reported Thursday. Several leaders of the State Council, China's cabinet, have called on office workers to dress in light, casual clothing instead of the typical suit so that air conditioners can be turned down, the English-language China Daily said.

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