110 years of Chechen oilDear readers,
The provisional press center of the Russian Interior Ministry in the
Northern Caucasus recently released information about the results of the
"Chechen Oil" operation, stating that during the first 10 months of 2003
federal law-enforcement agencies shut down 183 illegal tap holes in the
main pipeline and 3,182 oil-processing mini-plants. According to the
Russian Interior Ministry, between 500,000 and 700,000 tonnes of oil are
stolen in Chechnya each year; and up to 30,000 people are involved in
illegal oil dealings. Therefore, we'd like to draw your attention to following article on oil production in Chechnya by our North Caucasus correspondent. Prague Watchdog.
By Ruslan Isayev
One hundred and ten years have passed since oil was first drilled in
Chechnya, which enabled the republic over the next century to become one
of the main oil suppliers for the Soviet Union. During World War II, more
than 80 % of all Soviet military vehicles used oil from the regions of
Grozny and Baku.
During the 1970's Chechnya's annual oil production averaged 22 million tonnes. This, together with oil from Kazakhstan and the Volga Basin, was
processed in three petrochemical plants in Grozny. Not much is left of
them today.
Much less oil is extracted in Chechnya now...
Today, Chechen wells only produce 1.5 million tonnes of oil per year. Company Grozneftegaz estimates that production may rise to 1.7 million
tonnes, which is the absolute limit according to oil industry managers, who
claim attaining 2 million tonnes is impossible given the extent of the
country's current reserves. Yet workers and engineers in the oil industry
have quite a different opinion.
Musa, a petrochemical engineer, remembers when the oil processing industry
was at its peak.
"During the past few years there has been a policy in our republic to
purposely destroy the oil processing industry. Our three plants were
capable of processing 30 million tonnes of oil per year, but they no longer
exist and Chechnya has no processing facilities of its own. It is
becoming evident that someone did not like the idea that we were able to
process our own oil, as this might have become a major ace in the hole for
the Chechen people."
Musa claims the republic is now able to produce double the amount of oil
it actually produces, and also believes that their oil fields are
connected to the Caspian oil shelf. "That means hundreds of millions of
tonnes of oil, so all this talk about Chechnya not being able to produce 2
million tonnes yearly is yet another deception by our people."
According to Grozneftegaz's management, construction of a new oil
processing plant is about to begin in the Shyolkovsky district with a
200,000 tonne capacity. According to their prognoses, this should be
sufficient for the internal needs of the country and they plan to export
the remainder.
...and exported illegally abroad
Despite all adopted measures, oil thievery occurs on a massive scale in
Chechnya. The so-called "oil squad," set up to protect the oil industry,
has not been able to accomplish its assigned tasks. Nevertheless, their
work did produce some results.
Several days ago in the Nadterechny district, members of the squad seized
several large KamAZ trucks filled with over 100 tonnes of oil and heading
into neighboring Ingushetia.
However, despite whatever measures are being taken, trucks laden with
stolen oil travel late at night across the border from Chechnya and
Ingushetia into the Malgobeksky district practically on a daily basis.
This goes on even though four checkpoints exist at the border, two of
which are operated by the Ingush and two by the federal army.
Because these trucks always travel with an armed escort, safe passage is
ensured to the final destination - a route that crosses nearly all of the
Northern Caucasus.
(A,D/E,T) |
