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CENN Daily Digest - 03/29/2004

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  • CENN Daily Digest - 03/29/2004

    CENN - MARCH 29, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
    Table of Contents:
    1. Environmental Investment Program
    2. Six Tones of Seeds Gathered along BTC Pipeline
    3. BP Invests $ 4.1 bn in Azerbaijan in 2003
    4. Botas to Finish Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipeline on Time
    5. New Laboratories Open to Control Food Quality
    6. Armenian Ministry Denies Reports of "Security Measures" in Nuclear
    Plant
    7. Yerevan Realizes Anti-Russian Gas Project
    8. Director of the Center for Pluralism `Inam' Vahid Gazi Conducted a
    Number of Meetings Last Week
    9. Summer Course in Environmental Justice at University of Wisconsin



    1. ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT PROGRAM

    BTC Co has developed an Environmental Investment Program for the three
    countries, to go beyond reduction of ecological impacts and bring
    additional benefits by supporting projects for the promotion and
    conservation of biodiversity with the principles of capacity building /
    technology transfer; sustainability; tangible impacts and linkages with
    other relevant initiatives.

    The program is focused on the protection and conservation of rare and
    endangered species and also on ecologically important areas. In Turkey,
    ecologically sustainable enterprise projects (ESEP) will be developed as
    an integral part of most projects and also under a separate key theme
    named small grants program. ESEPs are ecology focused income generation
    component of the program that support the sustainability of the program
    objectives, and also serve to NGO capacity building and to community
    needs. Click here for information on the EIP.

    Stakeholder dialogue has enabled the identification of key priority
    themes for funding under the EIP. Projects for each theme are identified
    through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process calling for submissions
    under the key priority themes. The first proposal tranche was advertised
    in 2003 and proposals evaluated according to pre-set criteria. More
    projects will be funded the same way starting from 2004. The EIP budget
    allocated for Turkey is US $ 3.3 million to be disbursed to
    organizations, in the form of grants.

    The RFP process undertaken in 2003 allowed for identification of five
    projects for support. Two additional projects are currently under review
    and may be awarded in the near future if they demonstrate compliance
    with all the required criteria. See `Projects' menu for information on
    the EIP Projects supported by BTC Co

    BTC Co's role is to manage the EIP, including the funds, program
    monitoring and communications with interested stakeholders. BTC Co is
    also responsible for liaison with the implementing partners including
    monitoring of project execution and provision of support and training
    for the partners
    BTC News Bulletin, March 26 2004


    2. SIX TONS OF SEEDS GATHERED ALONG BTC PIPELINE

    On recommendation of Azerbaijan biologists, 6 tons of wild plants seeds
    were gathered along the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. These seeds
    will be used for restoration of previous plant cover on the territories;
    the pipeline passes through, stated representatives of the Institute of
    Biology of NAS. The work will be realized by CCIC Company - Bp
    contactor.
    AzerTag, March 27, 2004


    3. BP INVESTS $ 4.1 BN IN AZERBAIJAN IN 2003

    Investment in BP projects in Azerbaijan, including the
    Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli and Shah Deniz fields and the construction of the
    Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, amounted to $ 4.1 bn in 2003, Azer
    Zeinalov, director of the BP Baku business center, said at a meeting of
    the Caspian Integration Business Club. Of this amount, $ 3.9 bn was
    spent on orders from subcontractors, including $ 350 mm -- from
    Azerbaijani companies.

    "Foreign subcontractors that do not operate in Azerbaijan carried out $
    1.7 bn worth of orders and foreign companies working in the republic --
    $ 1.8 bn, of which $ 800 mm was spent in republic and $ 1 bn -- outside
    Azerbaijan," Zeinalov said.

    He said that small and mid-sized Azerbaijani companies carried out $ 48
    mm worth of orders, state companies -- $ 116 mm, and joint ventures -- $
    191 mm. Zeinalov also said that at the moment over 500 companies provide
    subcontractor services for BP projects, of which over 300 are domestic
    companies and 200 -- foreign companies.
    EIN News, March 26, 2004


    4. BOTAS TO FINISH BAKU-TBILISI-ERZURUM PIPELINE ON TIME

    Turkish state pipeline company Botas plans to complete the Turkish
    section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline on time.

    "The Turkish side is able to build its section of the
    Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline on time, so gas supplies from the Shah
    Deniz field will begin in 2006-2007, as expected," stated
    representatives of the Botas head office in Ankara. Participants in the
    Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project said that bad weather in Turkey is delaying
    construction work on the Turkish section of that pipeline. As a result,
    experts said that the construction delays may push back the launch date
    for the pipeline, which would in turn lead to delays for the
    Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline.

    The two pipelines are being built in one corridor, using the same
    construction resources. Therefore, construction of the
    Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline can only begin once the
    Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan is completed. The Botas source said that "at the
    moment research work is continuing for the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline
    project and no deviation from schedule is expected."

    According to plan, the capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, which
    stretches 225 km in Turkey, will amount to 30 bn cmpy, Reserves at the
    Shah Deniz field are estimated at 625 bn cm of gas and 101 mm tons of
    gas condensate. Shareholders in the project to develop the Shah Deniz
    field include BP -- 25.5 %, Statoil -- 25.5 %, LUKAgip -- 10 %,
    TotalFinaElf -- 10 %, SOCAR -- 10 %, National Iranian Oil Company -- 10
    % and TPAO -- 9 %.
    EIN News, March 26, 2004


    5. NEW LABORATORIES OPEN TO CONTROL FOOD QUALITY

    According to the information provided through the Ministry of Economic
    Development, arbitrary laboratory for technical, chemical, toxicological
    and microbiological analysis is functioned at the consumer goods
    examination center.

    Laboratories equipped with up-to-date technology and devices were opened
    in Nakhchivan and Ganja- Gazakh towns.

    Laboratory on control food and grains products quality will be created
    in Jalilabad region. It will be equipped with up-to-date technology
    delivered from Russia, Turkey and Germany.

    Another laboratory for food analysis will be opened in Guba-Khachmaz
    region, which to play particular role in providing ecologically pure
    foodstuff products meeting the international norms of hygiene.
    AzrTag, March 27, 2004


    6. ARMENIAN MINISTRY DENIES REPORTS OF "SECURITY MEASURES" IN NUCLEAR
    PLANT

    The press service of the Ministry of Energy of Armenia has denied rumors
    in the press that extraordinary security measures have been taken on the
    Armenian Nuclear Power Station since the middle of the last week.

    The press service of the Ministry stated that the Armenian Nuclear Power
    Station would be refueled again in summer.
    Noyan Tapan News Agency, March 25, 2004


    7. YEREVAN REALIZES ANTI-RUSSIAN GAS PROJECT

    On March 23, 2004 Armenian Minister of Electric Energy Armen Movsiyan
    announced at a session of the country s Government that Iran-Armenia
    pipeline which construction is planned to be finished in the beginning
    of 2005 will be prolonged through the Georgian territory, than by the
    bottom of the Black Sea to Ukraine and then to Western Europe. Thus, the
    gas of Iran and Turkmenistan will be supplied to countries of the EU
    passing Russia. As a result the Russian budget will lose several billion
    dollars every year. So, the most reliable partner of Russia in the
    Caucasus Armenia is realizing what the US has not been able to do: it
    creates an alternative route of gas export from Central Asia to the
    West.
    RIA OREANDA, March 25, 2004


    8. DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR PLURALISM `INAM' VAHID GAZI CONDUCTED A
    NUMBER OF MEETINGS LAST WEEK

    Vahid Gazi met with an American independent expert Pam Flowers arrived
    in Azerbaijan with the goal of getting acquainted with NGOs and activity
    principles of NGOs in the framework of the project of BP titled
    `Increasing of abilities in a civic society'. In the course of the
    meeting Vahid Gazi informed the guest on nine-year activity of the
    Center, as well the situation of civic society in the country, and news
    in this sphere. Exchange of opinion took place on the activities could
    be done by BP in the field of development of democracy and civic society
    and recommendations were given related this issue.

    On March 25 Vahid Gazi met in `Inam''s office with the representative of
    International Church Organization for Development and Cooperation in
    Holland Lisette Vandervel. Discussions concerning social and political
    situation in the country, problems of democracy and civic society, local
    NGOs and their activities, as well the perspectives of participation of
    public organizations in solution of Garabagh conflict took place during
    the meeting. The questions that interested the representative of the
    organization beginning new activity in Azerbaijan were responded.

    On March 26 the executive director of Human Rights House Foundation of
    Norway Mrs. Maria Dahle visited the Center for Pluralism `Inam'. Mrs.
    Dahle wishing to create `Human Rights' House in our country interested
    in `Inam' opportunities in assisting to foundation of this House. Mrs.
    Dahle noted about discussions to be held also with other public bodies
    and state organs and informed that such bodies have been set up up to
    date in Russia, Belarus, Turkey, Poland, Norway and other countries.
    Vahid Gazi expressed that this initiative will be met with great
    interest in society and the activity of this body will contribute
    greatly to enlightenment in the sphere of human rights in the country.

    Inam Center for Pluralism

    www.inamcfp.org
    www.3-cusektor.org


    9. SUMMER COURSE IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AT UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
    June 21 - July 11,2004
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Three-Week Summer Field Course for College Students and High School
    Teachers

    A course for college students and high school teachers to examine major
    societal concerns:
    § environmental protection
    § public health
    § social justice
    § race and poverty

    The environment is where we live, work and play; justice involves making
    environmental decisions democratically and with community empowerment.
    In this three-week, three-credit summer class we examine issues that lie
    at the intersection of major societal concerns regarding social justice,
    environmental protection, and health. Approximately half of the class
    days consist of field trips to communities in Wisconsin and Chicago that
    are impacted by landfills, sewage treatment plants, and industrial
    facilities; some of these are Superfund sites.

    Classroom days will be devoted to readings, videos, and discussions,
    which ill cover the history of the environmental justice movement and
    its connections to the civil rights and anti-toxics movements; case
    histories covering political, legal, economic, scientific, and health
    aspects; critical evaluation of demographic and socioeconomic evidence
    for inequitable location of hazardous waste sites; global environmental
    justice; and the future of the environmental justice movement.

    All participants will keep a journal. High school teachers and regular
    college students will team to develop a curriculum unit in their area of
    expertise.

    Course readings include Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental
    Quality; From the Ground Up: Environmental Racism and the Rise of the
    Environmental Justice Movement; Ecocide of Native America; Garbage Wars;
    Tilting at Mills; Exporting Harm.

    Instructor: Professor Herb Wang

    Enrollment begins March 29

    New reentry and continuing UW-Madison students will be notified of
    summer enrollment times. The schedule is also published in the
    UW-Madison Summer Bulletin Register for Institute for Environmental
    Studies 400 or College of Letters and Science Interdisciplinary Studies
    400.

    For more information
    Contact:Professor Herb Wang
    Department of Geology and Geophysics
    1215 W.Dayton St.
    Madison,WI 53706-1692

    E-mail [email protected]
    Phone 608/262-5932;
    Web site www.geology.wisc.edu/~wang/SummerEJ/

    --
    *******************************************
    CENN INFO
    Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

    Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
    Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
    E-mail: [email protected]
    URL: www.cenn.org
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