Sakhalin-2
The Sakhalin-2 project has been hailed as one of the most ingenious means of extracting energy from the frozen tundra and icy waters of Northern Russia. It has been control nearly entirely by three global giants Royal Dutch Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi. Until recently when Gazprom has taken a 50% plus 1 share stake in this project by fiat by the Kremlin. This action by this group, Gazprom, only shows that Russia has truly de-evolved from it's very western drive when the Soviet Union collapsed, but it also shows that Russia when it comes to managing its enormous natural resources will go to nearly any lengths at keeping them in Russian hands. As well as showing the the Russian people that Russian companies won't be bullied around (when it really needs the Wests help to markets).
I have watched this whole process and have noticed the sheer amount of resources the 3 major players have put in and what they would gain from this project. It was theirs to begin with and reap the profits from. It was when the Kremlin interceded with the threat of withholding vital permits and stating they are out of environmental regulation that things began to get ugly. The Kremlin has bullied its way into the controlling stake in this whole project and has done nothing more then to cause it devalue. The Kremlin said that the 3 major players must give up their hold on it if they are to get their permits. The 3 major players did so and as expected the permits arrived and the threat of environmental halting vanished. To add insult to injury from this, the Kremlin has shoved the 3 original partners with $3.6 billion in additional costs, which by virtue of the new contracts escapes Gazprom from paying a single penny. This strips out the return to just over 11% over the whole project. Hardly worth the original amount of money any of them have dumped into this project.
While on the front, the Kremlin may have won this little battle on who is top dog in Russian energy, they are loosing the war. They have had two years in which Gazprom has caused one disaster with Ukraine and they nearly missed another disaster with the West with Belarus. These two incidents only prove how inept they are at supplying the west with a constant rate of energy with out fear of them throwing a fit and shutting it off.
To make this more amusing the West has managed to use the EBRD (European Bank of Reconstruction and Development) to slap the Kremlin with a NO, to a loan of $300 million. It actually makes perfect sense to why the EBRD would not grant the loan. They normally only grant loans to groups that allow greater movement into freer market (if you noticed it was already free until the Kremlin wanted 50% plus 1 share), and also that none of the 3 major players needed the loan. This somewhat puts a dampener on Russian environmentalists because the EBRD would have put pressure on the Kremlin to keep in line with environmental requirements through the loan, but with no loan the Kremlin may notice that the West is watching.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Monday, January 1, 2007
Happy New Years 2007!!!
Happy New Years 2007!!!
The beginning of 2007 for many is a time to move on and blaze a new path or continue what they had originally planed. For me, this New Year really does mark a new beginning for me, a chance to blaze a new path in 2007. I say this because the past few months have not been the most enjoyable. The clock striking midnight at December 31st 2006 and turning over to January 1st 2007 was a wonderful thing. What made it even more spectacular was I was with some of my dearest friends.
That whole evening with them actually started off, as usual, with a bit of chaos, and far from the on-time that I am. I had extended an invite to a very sweet and dear friend of mine who is the total opposite of on time and organized and I love him dearly for it. He is nearly never on time and is usually not that organized. I keep threatening him I will buy him a FiloFax to put him on time and organize his agenda. But those two traits, not being on time and slight disorganization normally drive me off a cliff. But with him, they just make him more unique and endearing because he always pokes fun of me with my time. Plus, those two traits of his have taught me to relax more (yes, I can do that, but it has taken me some time to get to where I am now). He has taught me many things in this world, one not to take it too seriously, always laugh, and enjoy the ride.
Yet, this ride was originally announced to everyone that the dinner party was to start at 8:15 p.m. I had my friend stop early for coffee before we went to this party; this was the plan at least. 7:30 rolled around (I rang him around 6:30 p.m.) and I starting to wonder where on this planet he has wondered off too. Needless to say he got himself trapped in a wee situation in which it took him a bit of time to get out of but we still arrived at the party prior to midnight. Actually I think we arrived around 9ish. Shortly after our arrival my best friend shows up with board games and the most amazing feta dip I have had in a while. From what I recall it is ¾ lb of Feta, some milk, sun dried tomatoes and herb de province. I could have sat there with the chips and the dip all to myself (yes, that thought did cross my mind). Well as that all started to come together the hostess put out a beautiful chocolate fondue. It was wonderful, especially with the oranges one dipped into it. After that we planed this board game called “Apples to Apples ”. It was the most amusing game to play. It was also insightful as one learned more how people think, what they find funny, witty and amusing. I also was told playing that game while totally inebriated is also rather fun. Though none of us got to that point and all were well behaved (which is good because as we left we noticed the goons that were out and about. The police had blocked off a street we could see as we wondered home after the party).
So this New Year for me has some new resolutions, which of course are written down and shall be reviewed daily and adjustments made as I see fit to make sure those goals are reached in 2007. One really should write down their goals and thoughts and desires down and go back to them, as often as one likes or constantly to make sure you are on target to achieve them. And be realistic with them when it comes to time frames. Don’t set yourself up to fail. Setting yourself up to fail not only ruins what you were doing, it just makes setting new goals more difficult because you have not achieved the ones before.
But those are my thoughts for the New Year. I wish you all a very Happy New Year, and hopefully all your dreams, desires and wishes come true.
The beginning of 2007 for many is a time to move on and blaze a new path or continue what they had originally planed. For me, this New Year really does mark a new beginning for me, a chance to blaze a new path in 2007. I say this because the past few months have not been the most enjoyable. The clock striking midnight at December 31st 2006 and turning over to January 1st 2007 was a wonderful thing. What made it even more spectacular was I was with some of my dearest friends.
That whole evening with them actually started off, as usual, with a bit of chaos, and far from the on-time that I am. I had extended an invite to a very sweet and dear friend of mine who is the total opposite of on time and organized and I love him dearly for it. He is nearly never on time and is usually not that organized. I keep threatening him I will buy him a FiloFax to put him on time and organize his agenda. But those two traits, not being on time and slight disorganization normally drive me off a cliff. But with him, they just make him more unique and endearing because he always pokes fun of me with my time. Plus, those two traits of his have taught me to relax more (yes, I can do that, but it has taken me some time to get to where I am now). He has taught me many things in this world, one not to take it too seriously, always laugh, and enjoy the ride.
Yet, this ride was originally announced to everyone that the dinner party was to start at 8:15 p.m. I had my friend stop early for coffee before we went to this party; this was the plan at least. 7:30 rolled around (I rang him around 6:30 p.m.) and I starting to wonder where on this planet he has wondered off too. Needless to say he got himself trapped in a wee situation in which it took him a bit of time to get out of but we still arrived at the party prior to midnight. Actually I think we arrived around 9ish. Shortly after our arrival my best friend shows up with board games and the most amazing feta dip I have had in a while. From what I recall it is ¾ lb of Feta, some milk, sun dried tomatoes and herb de province. I could have sat there with the chips and the dip all to myself (yes, that thought did cross my mind). Well as that all started to come together the hostess put out a beautiful chocolate fondue. It was wonderful, especially with the oranges one dipped into it. After that we planed this board game called “Apples to Apples ”. It was the most amusing game to play. It was also insightful as one learned more how people think, what they find funny, witty and amusing. I also was told playing that game while totally inebriated is also rather fun. Though none of us got to that point and all were well behaved (which is good because as we left we noticed the goons that were out and about. The police had blocked off a street we could see as we wondered home after the party).
So this New Year for me has some new resolutions, which of course are written down and shall be reviewed daily and adjustments made as I see fit to make sure those goals are reached in 2007. One really should write down their goals and thoughts and desires down and go back to them, as often as one likes or constantly to make sure you are on target to achieve them. And be realistic with them when it comes to time frames. Don’t set yourself up to fail. Setting yourself up to fail not only ruins what you were doing, it just makes setting new goals more difficult because you have not achieved the ones before.
But those are my thoughts for the New Year. I wish you all a very Happy New Year, and hopefully all your dreams, desires and wishes come true.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Christmas Day-2
Well this is Christmas Day still, and this is the continuation of what has managed to happen and my thoughts. As you already know and are aware my day has been rather calm and fairly quiet with nothing more then some coffee and a hand full of phone calls around the planet and some thinking.
I have now expanded to green tea. As you will learn, I drink lots of it (tea that is) and sometimes go to extreme lengths to get my hands on decent tea.
My best friend/brother, just arrived back from a short Christmas trip to Seattle and Vancouver, with his other half. He brought me back some tea from some shop who's name seems to elude me. I have yet to try some, I'm sure I will have some in the next few days and see if it's as good as he claims (yes, he claimed it very good and sent me a text from the shop (lucky bastard....he gets decent tea in a beautiful city and me stuck in Salt Lake). Actually it is not as bad as I make it out to be. Though it has its moments, there are some good things about it. So long as you have family around, you can manage. And I have amazing adopted family that makes my days seem less stressed out. But I mention that it isn't as bad as people make it be because I was driving the other day (in his car), and I was struck with a though (a rare one for me) that this city is beautiful; by myself, listening to music and noticed that their isn't a soul around me, the mountains are totally capped with beautiful white snow. The sky was so clear that you could see over into the adjoining counties and as I was driving a beautiful plane was on final approach into the airport. I had to smile, because of where I was going, where I had been, and where I am. These thoughts rarely enter my mind, probably because I'm normally surrounded by people constantly. Just the constant noise of society, and the constant demands of my time from my office. I rarely notice and sit back to see the beauty of what is around me. I think I should prioritise myself a little more to take a few moments and notice that in all the chaos of my surroundings that there is beauty. That their is a sense of joy, and that there are people around who truly do matter to me, and who really care about my being.
I actually reflect to that moment because earlier today as I put the first entry into this place I was feeling a bit blue and a bit angry, and annoyed with society and my circumstances. Though, as I was watching the clock to make sure I had enough time to run to the airport to collect the Christmas entourage. I had to sit and think why am I bitching. I have so much more to bitch about then this. And so much more to work on then myself interests (though yes, people should not neglect what they need, but should adapt how to help others to help oneself out (if that makes any sense)).
Tomorrow should be interesting as I have to deal with family that evening, after I have to deal with my office (you will hear loads about that in many more entries to come).
Anyway, Merry Christmas to you All!
And one must not forget.... Happy Hanukkah
Christmas Day
25 Dec 2006
Well, this is Christmas Day in Salt Lake City. I find it to be a rather interesting yet quiet day, not exactly dull but quiet. As this is my first posting to a blog I ponder what all to mention and what all to omit. Sitting here pondering classical Christmas music while listening a remix of Kelly Osbourne’s “One Word”. I remember listening to that song while on a quick holiday in San Diego with family.
These will become more robust as I learn more about blogging and pour more of my thoughts onto a little computer screen.
Well, this is Christmas Day in Salt Lake City. I find it to be a rather interesting yet quiet day, not exactly dull but quiet. As this is my first posting to a blog I ponder what all to mention and what all to omit. Sitting here pondering classical Christmas music while listening a remix of Kelly Osbourne’s “One Word”. I remember listening to that song while on a quick holiday in San Diego with family.
These will become more robust as I learn more about blogging and pour more of my thoughts onto a little computer screen.
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