Presseurop |

Europe / Asia | Stalin's dream to come true

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:09:16 +0100

România liberă reports that "a Russian-Kazakh working group will shortly announce the launch of a project to build 700-km long canal between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea." The "Eurasia" canal, "will have a profound impact on Central Asian geopolitics, enabling Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Iran to become naval powers, and for Russia to realise Stalin’s dream for a navigable canal that would bring China closer to Europe."

According to the Bucharest daily, "the boon of greater economic and geo-strategic access to Asia will not only be of benefit to the Russians". The 25-billion euro project will also facilitate access to the Caspian Sea oil reserves, and its capacity will be doubled by a future network of motorways to link Russia and China." România libera has calculated "that if the canal attracts just 5% of the current maritime freight traffic between China and Europe, countries on the new route will receive an additional 2.2 billion euros in tax revenue every year." On this basis, the daily points out that the European Union should hurry "to present its long awaited strategy for the Danube, which flows into the Black Sea."

(News in brief)

Romania | White Stream II aims to sideline Nabucco

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:52:44 +0100

In the wake of an agreement between Romania, Georgia and Azerbaijan on the construction of a new pipeline to link Caspian Sea gas fields to Europe, România liberă announces: "Romania achieves its goal of becoming the EU's Black Sea energy terminal." The White Stream II pipeline project, which the daily describes as "an ideal solution for Europe," will have the capacity to "transport 20 billion cubic metres of gas to the European Union starting in 2012" – enough to put an end to "Europe's dependence on supplies from Russia." The cost of the project – between 2 and 4 billion euros – makes it "the most attractive option for the EU." Though it should be noted that it will be in direct competition with the considerably more expensive Nabucco pipeline – from Iran to Central Europe via Turkey – which has already been the subject of hard-fought negotiations within the EU. Another advantage of the project, remarks România liberă, "is the major positive impact it will have on Romania's geopolitical interests in the Black Sea."

(News in brief)

Petrol | Romania's Black Sea, the new Persian Gulf? (Adevărul, Bucharest)

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:06:50 +0100

A year ago the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed Romania's sovereignty over part of the Black Sea continental shelf. Ever since the government in Bucharest has been dreaming of lucrative deals with major oil and gas companies, reports Adevărul. (Article)

Biodiversity | Future going dark on the Black Sea (Gandul, Bucharest)

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:45:37 +0100

Once a trove of marine biodiversity, the Black Sea is now losing its sturgeon, sharks and dolphins – after having driven its seals and shrimp to extinction. The culprits are pollution, overfishing and poaching. (Article)

Romania | Torn between two pipelines

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:05:39 +0100

Nabucco, Nord Stream and South Stream were on the agenda for the Black Sea Energy Forum, organized by the American think tank, the Atlantic Council of the United States, which was held from 30 September to 2 October in Bucharest. Among the main countries concerned by the planned gas pipelines, Italy is eager to point out that Nabucco and South Stream should not be viewed as competing but complementary projects. "False!" Experts warn that there will not be "enough gas to feed all of the pipelines" – a fact which prompts România Libera to announce: "The first one completed is the winner." The quarrel has only just begun, because the Nabucco pipeline passes through 500 km of Romanian territory, for which reason Bucharest is being courted by Gazprom and its Italian partners, who want the country to take part in South Stream. "All of the countries involved in the project are playing on both teams, so as to avoid disappointment," observes the daily. Romania is apparently the first country to have received an offer of 7.3 billion cubic metres of gas from a mysterious "friendly nation" if Nabucco is completed before South Stream. The Bucharest daily notes that the offer comes hot on the heels of the signing of an energy agreement between Romania and Azerbaijan.

(News in brief)