Russian pipeline's approval deals blow to EU

The European Union has supported the construction of an alternative pipeline, known as Nabucco, in an effort to counter Russian monopolistic influence by importing gas from Caspian Sea nations like Azerbijan and Turkmenistan. That project has been stalled, however, by a lack of supply agreements

B92

I think Nabucco is an American cowboy style bluff dreamed over by the US neocons.

Neither the US nor the Europeans have the financial luxury,in the middle of a credit crunch, to finance a costly project like Nabuco.

Another sticky point in Nabucco is how the gas is supposed to be transferred across Caspian Sea? Any of the bordering countries has a right to block a pipeline (including Iran, of course). Besides, what EU is going to do, if Turkey one bright morning, after all the billions are spent and pipeline is operational, would come up and say, give us an EU membership, or we turn the tap off?

As far as Russia is concerned With energy hungry Asian countries, Russia doesn't depend on Europe as customer. China/India are happy to take over. In addition, the new liquid gas technolgy transported on trucks/ships will outdate the most of the pipelines in the near future.

This costs so much to build. Invading ukraine might be a cheaper alternative. Not sure if this should be a joke or serious.

I think Nabucco is an American cowboy style bluff dreamed over by the US neocons.
(Leonidasi, 16 November 2009 14:59)

And it assumes, all these "stans" are stabile. Interesting to observe, that how much criticism did receive (indeed pretty ugly but not without certain plusses) regime of Lukashenko versus the regime of "Turkmenbashi" which made Kim Jong Il look like a liberal democrat.

But of course, because Sapamurat Niyazov alias "Turkmenbashi" was part of Dick Cheney's wet dreams. So is our close friend "Saak" and others in the area. On the other side the importance of Belarus in that business is merely as customer. Hence kicking Lukashenko is allowed - regardless, is it deserved or not. By no means is Lukashenko's human right record worse than of Pinochet - who was America's pet for a while. And of course Turkmenbashi is now probably in a very-very warm place.

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As far as Russia is concerned With energy hungry Asian countries, Russia doesn't depend on Europe as customer.
(Leonidasi, 16 November 2009 14:59)

FYI: the Zabaikal'sk - Manzhouli rail line is double-tracked and there is a lot of work going on to modernize everything on it. The typical length of freight train is over 100 cars and they rolling, rolling, rolling - full of raw materials and in one direction only.

As much as US customer market from toothbrushes, computers to military airplane parts does depend on Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturing - so do these (plus Japan) depend on raw materials we-all-know-where-from.

Who really does benefit from that and what-not is an other question. But fact is fact.

This costs so much to build. Invading ukraine might be a cheaper alternative. Not sure if this should be a joke or serious.

The European Union has supported the construction of an alternative pipeline, known as Nabucco, in an effort to counter Russian monopolistic influence by importing gas from Caspian Sea nations like Azerbijan and Turkmenistan. That project has been stalled, however, by a lack of supply agreements

B92

I think Nabucco is an American cowboy style bluff dreamed over by the US neocons.

Neither the US nor the Europeans have the financial luxury,in the middle of a credit crunch, to finance a costly project like Nabuco.

Another sticky point in Nabucco is how the gas is supposed to be transferred across Caspian Sea? Any of the bordering countries has a right to block a pipeline (including Iran, of course). Besides, what EU is going to do, if Turkey one bright morning, after all the billions are spent and pipeline is operational, would come up and say, give us an EU membership, or we turn the tap off?

As far as Russia is concerned With energy hungry Asian countries, Russia doesn't depend on Europe as customer. China/India are happy to take over. In addition, the new liquid gas technolgy transported on trucks/ships will outdate the most of the pipelines in the near future.

I think Nabucco is an American cowboy style bluff dreamed over by the US neocons.
(Leonidasi, 16 November 2009 14:59)

And it assumes, all these "stans" are stabile. Interesting to observe, that how much criticism did receive (indeed pretty ugly but not without certain plusses) regime of Lukashenko versus the regime of "Turkmenbashi" which made Kim Jong Il look like a liberal democrat.

But of course, because Sapamurat Niyazov alias "Turkmenbashi" was part of Dick Cheney's wet dreams. So is our close friend "Saak" and others in the area. On the other side the importance of Belarus in that business is merely as customer. Hence kicking Lukashenko is allowed - regardless, is it deserved or not. By no means is Lukashenko's human right record worse than of Pinochet - who was America's pet for a while. And of course Turkmenbashi is now probably in a very-very warm place.

----------

As far as Russia is concerned With energy hungry Asian countries, Russia doesn't depend on Europe as customer.
(Leonidasi, 16 November 2009 14:59)

FYI: the Zabaikal'sk - Manzhouli rail line is double-tracked and there is a lot of work going on to modernize everything on it. The typical length of freight train is over 100 cars and they rolling, rolling, rolling - full of raw materials and in one direction only.

As much as US customer market from toothbrushes, computers to military airplane parts does depend on Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturing - so do these (plus Japan) depend on raw materials we-all-know-where-from.

Who really does benefit from that and what-not is an other question. But fact is fact.