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Putin Scores Another Historic Victory: Austria Signs South Stream Pipeline Deal In Defiance Of Europe

Tyler Durden's picture




 

As the war of words between Europe and Russia has escalated, one of the outcomes that has emerged is that just like in false flag war over Syria, the Ukraine war was about the simplest possible thing, and yet so very complicate: a gas pipeline. Of course, it was never a secret that the prize in controlling Ukraine was possession of the vast pipeline infrastructure that left Russia and entered Europe, but since it was all Gazprom's gas in the first place, it didn't really matter if Kiev had possession of the gas as it transits to Europe, or if, as the case is now, Ukraine is merely a transit hub with all Russian gas delivered to European countries and none of it staying in the civil war torn country. After all as of this moment Ukraine can't afford any Russian gas, and if it siphons off any of the product destined for Germany and beyond it would simply antagonize its new NATO best friends, who also happen to be Gazprom clients.

No, the pipeline that has emerged with a starring role in the Ukraine conflict has nothing to do with Ukraine, but is a pipeline that crosses several hundred kilometers south of Ukraine - the South Stream project, which leaves the Russian black sea coast south of Crimea, crosses the black sea, and traverses Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and ends up in the gas hub in Baumgarten, Austria from where it proceeds to all points in central Europe, mostly Germany.

The project, which was conceived in 2007, was meant explicitly to bypass Ukraine, and to be an alternative to the now mothballed Nabucco gas pipeline which, with the backing of the US and Europe, would have taken Caspian gas (mainly Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan) and traverse Turkey before emerging in Bulgaria, and then followed the European path of the South Stream into the Austrian hub and beyond.

Not surprisingly, it was the key transit hub of the South Stream, Bulgaria, that started making problems for Putin even as he succeeded in trumping Nabucco (when in June 2013 the CEO of Austrian energy giant OMV, Gerhard Roiss, announced the project as "over" after the Turkish Shah Deniz consortium chose the Trans-Adriatic Pipieline over Nabucco as a gas export route which would supply Italy instead of Austria).

Recall that it was in January, two months before the Ukraine government was overthrown that the prime minister of Bulgaria - a country that has a very distinguished love/hate relationship with Russia (a relationship which the US would love to make more "hate") - Plamen Oresharski, surprisingly ordered a halt to work on the South Stream, on the recommendation of the EU. The decision was announced after his talks with US senators.

"At this time there is a request from the European Commission, after which we've suspended the current works, I ordered it," Oresharski told journalists after meeting with John McCain, Chris Murphy and Ron Johnson during their visit to Bulgaria on Sunday. "Further proceedings will be decided after additional consultations with Brussels."

At the time McCain, commenting on the situation, said that "Bulgaria should solve the South Stream problems in collaboration with European colleagues," adding that in the current situation they would want "less Russian involvement" in the project.

"America has decided that it wants to put itself in a position where it excludes anybody it doesn't like from countries where it thinks it might have an interest, and there is no economic rationality in this at all. Europeans are very pragmatic, they are looking for cheap energy resources - clean energy resources, and Russia can supply that. But the thing with the South Stream is that it doesn't fit with the politics of the situation," Ben Aris, editor of Business New Europe told RT.

It was also in January when EU authorities ordered Bulgaria to suspend construction on its link of the pipeline, which is planned to transport Russian natural gas through the Black Sea to Bulgaria and onward to western Europe. Brussels wants the project frozen, pending a decision on whether it violates the EU competition regulations on a single energy market. It believes South Stream does not comply with the rules prohibiting energy producers from also controlling pipeline access.

Therein, of course, lies the rub, because as Europe has learned the hard way so many times, its overrliance on Russia for both the production and the transit of gas means that it has absolutely no leverage over the Kremlin - something recent events in Ukraine have only confirmed.

Putin, earlier today, merely cemented the reality that it is not so much about who controls the energy transit pipelines, but whose influence controls Europe: America's or Russia's. "The US opposes the Russian South Stream gas pipeline project because it wants to supply gas to Europe itself, President Putin said on Tuesday. He called the situation an "ordinary competitive struggle."

“They do everything to disrupt this contract. There is nothing unusual here. This is an ordinary competitive struggle. In the course of this competition, political tools are also being used,” the Russian president said after holding talks with his Austrian counterpart, President Heinz Fischer, in Vienna.

"We are in talks with our contract partners, not with third parties. That our US friends are unhappy about South Stream, well, they were unhappy in 1962 too, when the gas-for-pipes project with Germany was beginning. Now they are unhappy too, nothing has changed, except the fact that they want to supply to the European market themselves," Putin stated.

Should this happen, American gas “will not be cheaper than Russian gas – pipe gas is always cheaper than liquefied gas,” Putin stressed.

* * *

Which in turn brings us to the culmination of the political struggle over the South Stream, when earlier today, in yet another coup for the Kremlin, one of the most stable and respected European countries, AAA-rated Austria gave its final approval to the "controversial" Russian gas pipeline project early Tuesday, defying EU officials and welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin to the neutral country that has been a long-standing energy customer for Moscow.

As Reuters reports, "the chief executives of Russia's Gazprom and Austria's OMV sealed the deal to build a branch of the South Stream gas pipeline to Austria, a staunch defender of the project in the face of opposition from the European Commission."

In other words, one short month after Putin concluded the Holy Grail deal with Beijing, he not only managed to formalize his conquest of Europe's energy needs with yet another pipeline, one which completely bypasses Ukraine (for numerous reasons but mostly one: call it a Plan B), but scored a massive political victory by creating a fissure in the heart of the Eurozone, after Austria openly defied its European peers and sided with Putin.

Needless to say, the European Commission is furious, and is digging in its heels saying South Stream does not comply with EU competition law because it offers no access to third parties. South Stream also, as noted above, counters the EU's policy of diversifying supply sources to reduce dependence on Russia.

But OMV CEO Gerhard Roiss, in a stunning moment of realpolitik clarity and admission that when it comes to the energy future of Europe, Putin is more important than Mario Draghi, told a news conference after the signing: "Europe needs Russian gas. Europe will need more Russian gas in future because European gas production is falling ... I think the European Union understands this, too."

Of course, they do. The only issue is they don't want to admit it because doing so seals Europea's fate as a vassal energy state of Russia. As for Europe's pipedream, pardon the pun, alternative of receiving LNG from the US, it was none other than Cnehiere CEO Charif Souki who said in April, when asked if Cheniere’s terminal could rescue eastern European countries from their dependence on Russia, that "It’s flattering to be talked about like this, but it’s all nonsense. It’s so much nonsense that I can’t believe anybody really believes it.

They don't, but it's all politics. And in politics it is all about wielding power, or submitting to it. Austria did the latter today, and by defecting on its European peers, it may have started a process that leads to the splintering of the Eurozone itself, with none other than Vladimir Putin once again pulling the strings.

The project has pitted European industry against politicians in Brussels, and divided South Stream supporters - which stretch from Germany through the heavily Russia-dependent central and southeastern Europe - from other EU member states.

 

On a one-day working visit to Vienna that drew some criticism in the EU, Putin spoke of close business ties to Austria, the first western European country to sign, in 1968, long-term gas supply deals with Moscow.

 

He called Austria an "important and reliable" partner for Russia, which is Austria's third-biggest non-EU trading partner after the United States and Switzerland.

 

Austrian President Heinz Fischer also defended the South Stream project, saying: "No one can explain to me - and I can't explain to the Austrian people - why a pipeline that crosses EU and NATO countries can't go 50 km into Austria."

Oh and for the record, the Austrian president said "He said he opposed sanctions against Moscow"... just in case the next time Europe dares to pass off any Russian sanctions over Ukraine decision as unanimous.

And speaking of Ukraine, things got downright bizarre in Vienna when the head of Austria's chamber of commerce reminded Putin that part of Ukraine had belonged to Austria in 1914.  "What is that supposed to mean? What are you proposing?" Putin quipped, eliciting laughter from the business elite. Next thing you know Putin will be joking about annexing Hungary...

And there you have it, just in case it was still unclear: what is happening in Ukraine is all a big joke to the power brokers in Europe, the "business elite" - the decision has long since been made that Putin will see no objection by said elite to whatever his intentions with regard to the irrelevant and civil war-torn country are. Aside, of course, from the token CIA and US theater fit simply for lower common denominator consumption.

The joint South Stream Austria project will be 50 percent owned by Gazprom – Russia's largest gas producer – and 50 percent owned by Austria’s OMV Group, the country’s largest oil and gas company.

Austria's president Fischer stated that if anyone criticizes Austria, they should also criticize other member countries and their companies.

“I suppose that there will be no such moment when such a country as Austria will not be holding talks with a partner, which has intense relations with us, and will not be ready to negotiate with it,” the Austrian leader said.

We know such a dialogue does not contradict any EU decision,” he added. What he meant is that nobody in Europe can tell Putin what to do.

* * *

As for the logistical issues of the pipeline, now that the agreement has been signed, they will all be resolved in due course: Gazprom chief Alexei Miller said earlier he was in weekly if not daily contact with European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger about winning approval for the South Stream project.

"We solve problems as they come up, and now the problem of construction of the pipeline is to be solved," Miller said.

The pipeline deal does not address the question of third-party access, which is required by EU law to prevent the owner of an energy source from monopolising its distribution channels. OMV's Roiss said the issue must be negotiated with Brussels.  Roiss said the Austrian part of the pipeline, which is planned to be built in 2016 and deliver its first gas supplies around the start of 2017, would comply fully with European law.

Gazprom and OMV said they would split the 200 million euro ($272 million) costs of building the 50-km (31- mile) Austrian stretch of South Stream, which in total will be 2,446 km long. The total cost of the South Stream pipeline is $40 billion.

At the end of the day it's only capex: money that is more than returned to the investor in the long-run. America may remember capex - it's what companies did before they pushed financial engineering beyond the edge, all in the pursuit of short-term capital appreciation gains. And if Gazprom can't fund it, we are confident China would be delighted to invest in the project by buying a few billion Renminbi-denominated bonds.

* * *

So congratulations to Putin: today he merely further cemented his status as Europe's default energy provider. But not only that. As Reuters noted some politicians have warned that Putin may try to exploit divisions between friendly EU states, such as neutral Austria with its traditionally good ties to Moscow, and those like Britain that want to take a harder line.

"Obviously ... Putin wants to split the European Union. That's nothing new. That's what the Russians always try to do when they are in a corner," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told Austrian broadcaster ORF on Monday.

Well, Mr. Bildt, Russia certainly succeeded in sowing the seeds of even more discord in the European Union, whose most stable country just sided with Putin and told all of its European "partners", Merkel and Cameron included, a big fuck you. As for your completely wrong remark about just who is "in the corner" we will let it slip: after all, as that other European career politician Jean-Claude Juncker taught us, when it gets serious, you have to lie.

 

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Wed, 06/25/2014 - 09:50 | 4892937 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

When I rule the world...every single one of you bitchez will know my name.

And you'll spell it fucking right, too!

The good news is 2 day workweek, 5 day weekend.
Free boob jobs at 18...and that is the extent of my social program agenda, although I will partially subsidize large military vehicle purchases for the individual. Meet you half way on Apache or Abrams purchases. Basically, do whatever you want as long as I don't have to pay for it and it doesn't interfere with my strenuous harem activities.

Bad news is I still reserve the right to bone your bride on your wedding night (and prom date x 2) and sometimes New Years Eve.
It's not a guarantee, so relax....and marry a buttaface...or a blond. Im partial to redheads and brunettes. I also get the first and last beer of every 12 pack. I get the first and last shot of every bottle of rum. I also get my own lane on every highway. My HQ will be the entire state of FL. If you have a Zero Hedge account you may stay and live extremely high on the hog. Everybody else has to move to New York.
My vacation home will be the state of AZ. Same rules apply.
I will have another vacation spot that is the entire island of Ireland. All Irish may stay and will most definitely fart through silk. All squatters in N Ireland will be moved to...you guessed it....New York.
Pirate flag will be the world flag.
Pirate will be the official language.
Pirate will be the dress code, although you are encouraged to be extremely creative. 15 pieces of flair not required.
The official currency will be 1oz gold 99.9 with my middle finger on one side and a set of titties on the other.
Should make the Super Bowl coin toss interesting.
Who's with me? Get in early.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:30 | 4891651 Bingo Hammer
Bingo Hammer's picture

Totally agree Blotto and you can add the quiet but continuous unfolding of "transhumanism" and future "off-world" dominance to the list of their aspirations

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:02 | 4891778 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

Awesome

I knew we'd get the alien squad eventually.

Once they hear the word "occult" it draws em like flies.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 04:54 | 4892319 Bingo Hammer
Bingo Hammer's picture

Hey moron, apparently you can't read,...you're the only one here mentioning "aliens"

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:34 | 4891667 22winmag
22winmag's picture

Tallysticks

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:28 | 4891447 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

NSA was not spying on Austrian politicians? Where is the blackmail that has worked so well on Merkel?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:28 | 4891451 Seize Mars
Seize Mars's picture

Putin: Alpha as fuck.*

 

*Because this is what the Zio-communists who started WW I & II want. That is, they want to discredit America, ruin it financially, overrun it with illegal imiigrants, debauch the currency and simultaneously lift up Russia as the good guys. "One World Government" ensues. And if you thought the Stalinist Purges were fun, wait 'til you see the "New World Order." Wow.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:33 | 4891462 LetThemEatRand
LetThemEatRand's picture

You've got to hand it to the bankers for putting on one helluva show.  99% of the world's population has absolutely no idea that this is about NWO and global currency.  Most believe it is a showdown between the West and Russia.  

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:56 | 4891543 teslaberry
teslaberry's picture

i dinged you. 

 

i think youre view is a false juxtapostion and short sighted. you are saying one game takes precedence over the other. 

 

I am saying one game is the underlying basis (local--which is this case means national interests) and it plays WITH and FOR the boundaries of the other game ( influence in transnational government). 

 

is it not possible that russia and  china are competing to gain a substanial portion of the influence over any transnational government, which , one day, may be used to meet out the greater portion of profits to their nation states? and to meet out a declining portion of the profits to western nation states?

 

the idea that globalism is the big transnational game in the shadows superceding all the other traditional forms of westphalian inter-state competition ignores the possiblity that these games are intermeshed, and that transnational elites don't all share the same exact tax havens and alliances. 

 

then again, if you bleieve everythign is total secret illuminati bullshit and that world war itself is tranational cooperation of multi-nationals to WANT war against between their respective nations-------than that extreme view of transnationalism STILL does not preclude that some nations win and some lose after the war is over. 

 

and with nuclear weapons around, that game gets a bit more risky---even perhaps for transnational elites , much of whose wealth is tied up in property ownership in cities that could be bombed even as they safely hide out in their rural retreats.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:17 | 4891573 LetThemEatRand
LetThemEatRand's picture

I believe a few hundred people control more wealth than the rest of the world combined.  And I believe they control the world "leaders."   I don't really buy into the Illuminati stuff.  I think they are just a bunch of extremely wealthy families who believe we are pawns, and who believe it is their birthright to control us, like all Kings and Queens throughout history.  It's all of us who are playing checkers.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:09 | 4891817 ThankYouSatan
ThankYouSatan's picture

Reptoids dude, reptoids

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:29 | 4891869 Yes_Questions
Yes_Questions's picture

 

 

if by "extremely wealthy" you mean claim the deed to the planet, then we are on the same page regards the "few hundred".

 

George Carlin, to my knowledge, first called them out as the "owners" and to me there is no better name for them. 

 

interestingly, most have no comparable competitive need to own so it is not until their presence intersects with individual liberty that the plebs begin to notice the heated water.

 

may their inbreeding foster their divestiture before we take their fucking heads off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:15 | 4892106 ThankYouSatan
ThankYouSatan's picture

Owned by your own free will, slave

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:40 | 4891484 Landrew
Landrew's picture

OH, I don't think we need help with the discrediting, we do just fine on our own.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:27 | 4891644 22winmag
22winmag's picture

It all rests with individuals in the U.S. military (backed by 10 million armed civilians coincidentally).

Because in all seriousness, they hold the last keys to nation.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:29 | 4891452 Itch
Itch's picture

Putin and his magic chess board again, hold on while i cringe up a kidney. 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:29 | 4891453 Dublinmick
Dublinmick's picture

Putin: I am so tired of winning

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:34 | 4891466 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

The winning will get easier and easier as people get fed up with the USA, expect a lot more intelligence gains by the Russians as American citizens and Euros fed up with the system will pass information and technology for free.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:58 | 4891526 Chupacabra-322
Chupacabra-322's picture

Fall of the Criminal UNITED STATES, CORP. INC. empire.

However, is it the fall of The Global Criminal Oligarch Religious Cabal Bankster Intelligence Crime Syndicate (NWO)? I think not.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:57 | 4891545 Freddie
Freddie's picture

LOL!  Amerika is a joke now.  The cowardly US Military let the country be taken over.  Best symbolized by that 5'9" midget traitor and pussy General Betray-US. 

The Congress and no Americans will stand up to the Kenyan.  Joke country.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:16 | 4891852 sleigher
sleigher's picture

:(  Sometimes I am sad beacuse I want to believe.  I want to believe that americans will wake up/stand up and take their country back.  It isn't gonna happen is it?  sad... 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:34 | 4891892 Yes_Questions
Yes_Questions's picture

 

 

i'm holding out for the people of the WORLD to stand up...

 

don't be sad, there's alway someone who has it worse..

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:26 | 4891643 GrowingWorse
GrowingWorse's picture

A global conservative alliance with Putin seems useful.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:41 | 4891487 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

I doubt he keeps score, just keeps working.

Russians are very durable

Clever

And not scared of much.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:00 | 4891555 teslaberry
teslaberry's picture

in russia putin doesn't get tired of winning, winning gets tired of putin. 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:33 | 4891460 Kaiser Sousa
Kaiser Sousa's picture

and it wont stop...

cause it dont stop...

cause he cant stop...

Putin puting the "P" in PIMPIN'..

fresh - for the 2014...

YOU SUCKAS!!!!!!

watch the Silver action over night and into tomorrow...and please keep stackin.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:37 | 4891476 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

The Winner of the World Cup of Global Smarts goes to Putin while the Nobel Peace Prize goes to Obamma for outstanding humanitariancide work in East Ukraine

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:01 | 4891558 teslaberry
teslaberry's picture

the best trick putin ever played was making the EU believe that he never existed.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:34 | 4891467 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

    'Vlad The Impaler'  Oops that name's taken.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:49 | 4891481 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

How about Vladimir the GREAT, or PATER RUSSIA

But I like the way you are going, how about Vlad the Great Impaler :D

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:50 | 4891743 messystateofaffairs
messystateofaffairs's picture

Careful with the language,  might give bathhouse boy an orgasm.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 05:58 | 4892364 ebear
ebear's picture

Vlad Vader

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:38 | 4891477 Bay of Pigs
Bay of Pigs's picture

Barry has been grabbing his ankles for Vlad a lot lately hasn't he?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:17 | 4891988 tunnelvizn
tunnelvizn's picture

And just think, he has moar flexibility now !

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:40 | 4891485 stant
stant's picture

Austria is not in NATO. And doesn't have enough fuel for its military

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:46 | 4891507 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

It always gets cold up in the mountains, they cant take a gamble on a mild winter like the other Eurotards

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:47 | 4891511 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

Is it important to you?

Not in NATO...what about that is not to like?

 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:11 | 4891829 stant
stant's picture

No it's just a observation I thru it out there. Because it might explain decisions being made

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 02:00 | 4892228 The_Prisoner
The_Prisoner's picture

You are correct. One less way in which Austria's sovereignty can be undermined by the US.

On other news: Polish fighters in Ukraine.

Once again the Nazis are being stoped at the Saur-tomb.

http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.in/2014/06/ukrainian-successors-to-hitlerite.html

 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:46 | 4891505 the question
the question's picture

Obama foolishly downplaying Russia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH5kFqlTPls

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:58 | 4891768 Ness.
Ness.'s picture

You won't see that clip in the MSM.  I was no fan of Romney, but He completely undressed the clown emperor  currently residing in the White House.  Listen to Oblah's response... and this guy is currently navigating US Foreign relations??

WTF?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:05 | 4891801 the question
the question's picture

It really is astounding that he is our leader, isn't it?

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 01:41 | 4892214 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

Both terrible....

 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:50 | 4891517 Saucy-Jack
Saucy-Jack's picture

Energy, bitchez...energy runs the world.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:03 | 4891563 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

I realize that every single time I slide my credit card through the gas pump card reader.  The repercussions of not being able to get around during the week in my car would be profound.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:35 | 4891660 CrashisOptimistic
CrashisOptimistic's picture

It is the disinclination to word this properly that lets people imagine mild discomfort or even discomfort without the adjective.

Instead of:

If I can't drive my car somewhere, then neither can anyone else and riding my bike to the store will be useless because NEITHER CAN ANYONE ELSE, INCLUDING THE TRUCKS THAT PUT THINGS ON SHELVES.

Boom.  You go to the gas station tomorrow.  It's empty.  You try another.  Empty.  They are all empty.  Tomorrow.  What are you going to do?  What?

I'll tell you what.  You're going to go back home and turn on the TV to look for news of what's happening and when will it be fixed.  Then later in the day, water shuts off in your pipes because the water company workers went home to find food for their families.

Now you have about 48 hrs to live without water.  NOW.  What are you going to do?

I'll tell you.  You're going to die. 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:52 | 4891750 samsara
samsara's picture

"I'll tell you.  You're going to die."

Unless you have been preparing for the last few years... that is.

 

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:12 | 4892104 luckylogger
luckylogger's picture

Fortunately I have spent a lot of my life living in a little pup tent logging in the back country.
At home I have a garden, a "crick" running behind my house, wood stove and lots of camping gear.
They can shut it all off and it is better than my pup-tent camps..
Our electricity was shut off for more than a week one time and everybody was crying the blues.......
We did ok, had the rigging to cook, shower, heat water and see at night...
Granted it is better with everything working, but it is possible to live without the modern luxuries.....
Of course we live "back there" and have water running behind our house that is clean........... and 40 feet away............
The place was set up before electricity..............

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:51 | 4891742 samsara
samsara's picture

Start watching the NetFlix show 'Revolution'. 

Start learning what it could be like and mentally preparing.  If you are younger than 60 it will be in your lifetime...

Heads up babe...

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:11 | 4891523 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

A a old pipeliner All I can think about is smokin downhill welding beads packin as much molten iron as you possibly can without it fallin in your lap. And good good at the wild weekends in every hillbilly town you go through with money sloshin everywhere. I remember the good ole days when we used to have capex and big projects like these pipelines flying every where out of Russia and the fat paychecks rollin. The kind of paycheck where you are almost too tired to reach out and grab it, but when you open the envelop you are smiling ear to ear instead of feeling like somebody just pissed in your hand. Sad, we can't even get 1 ft of the Keystone going between freindlies.

Makes me want to say fuck it and start adding a k to evry word and writing my p's backwards instead of sitting around with my thumb in my ass with chump work here in the USSA watching the rest of the world pass us by..

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:16 | 4891605 29.5 hours
29.5 hours's picture

Somehow I understood every word you said. Must be because I used to be a Steelworker in Pittsburgh -- times when any young guy on the labor gang could aspire to the middle class...

 

 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:23 | 4891618 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

Yes projects like these where they wanted it done yesterday and every day its not done cost more than all the double time they throw at you to get-er-done or get the hell out of the way so another hungry dog can.

Heck a young man could work on that one big line across to China and either retire or buy him a business when its completed.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:39 | 4891694 CrashisOptimistic
CrashisOptimistic's picture

The one thing you didn't get right is the issue of pipeline from Canada.

THAT DOESN'T MATTER.  There isn't any oil shut in from Canada that trucks can't (and don't) haul.  Oil is flowing just fine from Canada to the US.  A pipeline may make it marginally easier, but mostly it's just going to be some temporary welding jobs.

Contrast that with the pipeline from Russia to Europe.  Without that, nothing works.  You don't ship gas by truck anywhere.  It's not like oil.  The energy density is too low.  And if you go pressurizing it for a pressurized truck, then you're running the cost up, just like LNG.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:48 | 4891731 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

Now you are going to tell me about pipelining and the oil patch. You internet guys are too much.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:51 | 4891746 CrashisOptimistic
CrashisOptimistic's picture

Pop on over to youtube and look up trucks and Bakken.

Oil ain't what it used to be.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:10 | 4891761 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

Dont have to watch it on youtube. I already know what happened through business contacts I only did it 27years. After that amount of time you tend to meet a few people. Hint -Warren's Railroad.

Im blind as a bat now and a little to old for 100 hour shifts or I would be getting my passport.

And oil is still what it used to be, Black Gold. Kinda greenish tinted in the sun with gold looking flecks in it. Dang I-m getting a woody just thinking about it. LOL I like you crash.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:36 | 4891894 Crawdaddy
Crawdaddy's picture

I'm a cowdiddly fan now. Damn glad to meet ya! Turn and burn amigo.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:18 | 4891612 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

good and interesting post...

many wish to have the money they pissed away.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:39 | 4891695 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

Oh, I did alright for myself ;&)

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:25 | 4891636 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

I only understood about half that, but I'm pretty sure you and I are friends now.  Worst case, if we can't decide, we can go out drinking and figure it out.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:32 | 4891883 Crawdaddy
Crawdaddy's picture
  1. EXX1X is for use in all positions
  2. EXX2X is for use in flat and horizontal positions
  3. EXX3X is for flat welding
Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:52 | 4891527 SmittyinLA
SmittyinLA's picture

More like Chess vs blocks

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:22 | 4891627 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

I am thinking Whack-A-Mole using Butt end of Kalash

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:54 | 4891533 overmedicatedun...
overmedicatedundersexed's picture

EU looks to be carved up like a thanksgiving turkey, with Russia getting the white meat, Germany (we aint got no gold it been stolen) is ready to pivot who will go with them.. the southern EU border is going to heat up with wars a plenty. Kerry is the perfect Sec State, for the collapse with his history in Nam.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:54 | 4891534 Hughing
Hughing's picture

Cheap, clean and safe energy to 300 million people? Gret idea! Let's do that! What? Huh? Bullshit, you can't be serious. There are issues? Who's the fucktard with the bone up his ass?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 20:59 | 4891548 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

So retard Brezinski has it handed to him again.. He always tried to place the honus on Russia & China as opposed to the Middle East and likely thought this Kiev overthrow would amount to something.. It has not and he's likely phishing the darts to be thrown elsewhere because he wants the Russians fighting the Middle Easterns but it escaped him that the Middle East would come together when the U.S. Bombed and murdered millions of brown Muslim folk in the region..something which did not occur in the mid 80s...
See this nepotstic Mika job giving clown thinks HE and Kissinger took down Russia when they armed Afghan and caused financial strife..truth of the matter that train was coming...long before him..and most importantly they did not have a Putin in power checking them..which I love..
We were not in debt on this level, had international respect, and our weapon against the USSR became out poison that had been destroying is financially while allowing the USSR to learn and reorganize..
We are toast if we don't begin to lead by example and not the point of the sword..its all very easy to repair...for now..
Just be a beacon on unbridled freedom and let the rest care for themselves.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:06 | 4891571 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

We should of realized what the outcome would be letting a Pole do the strategic planning.  Not like they have been doing stellar since the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:16 | 4891608 kowalli
kowalli's picture

Poland don't want to be free, them like more to sucking from USA, EU or somebody else.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:14 | 4891594 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

before Afghanistan was the train coming...KGB totally aware of this..is why VV Putin and close group planned to to all they could for Mother Russia...

Yeltsin and looted...and then an opportunity

 

 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:04 | 4891793 MeBizarro
MeBizarro's picture

Please stop this nonsense that Putin is doing 'what he is doing for the good of the Russian people.'  Anyone who disagrees with him is dealt with in the same manner as anyone who disagreed with any Russian strongman since the time of the Golden Horde and the establishment of the Russian Tsars. 

Please look at the socioeconomic factors of the Russian people and the policies that Putin has put in place including investment in infrastructure and social programs. Russia is going to be the Moscow and St. Petersburg regions and the rest of the country is going to struggle in various means.  A lot of the former Soviet industrial towns are withering on the vine and will continue to do so.  You could make the same argument about the US too if you look at economic & development trends since the end of the Cold War too.  Putin is just more realpolitik about it and Russia in general.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:07 | 4891971 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

useless talkings

You seen have not idea of recovery and success since now Russian Federation.

Russian Federation has risen from collapse as final disaster of the 1917 revolution.

US has no such experience....yet

better worry about your own country

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:59 | 4892169 Clowns on Acid
Clowns on Acid's picture

Exactly, the Bolsheviks took Russia down in 1917, the neo Bolsheviks are bringing the US down today. The battle isn;t over.. it's going to get a lot more  bloody.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 05:16 | 4892338 MeBizarro
MeBizarro's picture

How much are you paid by the FSB again?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:21 | 4891997 Dublinmick
Dublinmick's picture

Bizzaro shouldn't you be out stealing organs somewhere?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:32 | 4891658 samsara
samsara's picture

I wonder how his Daughter Mika will spin these things on her morning pulpit "Morning Joe"

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:10 | 4891824 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Comical

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:17 | 4891853 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

Gotta wake up early in the morning to put a honus on Putin...

At this point he's honus free.

And is anyone shows up with a honus, Putin will ride that sucker bareback.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:34 | 4891888 Crawdaddy
Crawdaddy's picture

Careful now on Bresinski. He is in the big club that we aren't in. Although it is possible his NWO buddies would burn him to the ground if the need arose.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:05 | 4891566 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

Now we know why Putin was able to ask (order) his government to rescind the use of Russian troops in Ukraine - he doesn't need Ukraine any more! Once he cuts off the natty gas that the Ukraine is siphoning off, it will get very cold in Kiev. Putin will let the West 'win' the Ukraine and the West will get to handle Ukraine's debt, deal with a civil war, and supply the Ukraine with energy!

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:09 | 4891581 kowalli
kowalli's picture

We still have russians in Ukrain so west must fuck off.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:25 | 4891637 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

not exactly.......is more complicated in real

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:32 | 4892026 socalbeach
socalbeach's picture

Per the latest report, Ukraine isn't siphoning off any gas.

June 23, 2014

Russian gas piped through Ukraine as contracted

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:06 | 4891568 Arkadaba
Arkadaba's picture

Classic ZH! 

Edit: Thanks!

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:05 | 4891569 pakled
pakled's picture

Terrific piece. Especially compared to its RT counterpart.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:07 | 4891577 skillyhog
skillyhog's picture

The 80's called, they want their foreign policy back.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:10 | 4891585 kowalli
kowalli's picture

Actually it's not that great, but still good move forward. The most interesting thing will happen closer to winter.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:12 | 4891590 Blorf
Blorf's picture

I like the wishful thinking of including crimea as part of Ukraine on the map.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:29 | 4891607 pakled
pakled's picture

So this pipeline will be 2,446 km long (1,520 miles), at a total cost of 40 billion ($54 billion).

 

As a loose comparison, the 800 mile Alyeska oil pipeline built in 1975 cost $8 billion, or $35 billion in today's dollars.

Many differences, but seems like a nice price for a 1500 mile pipeline. Especially since it is going under a sea.

 

Any wildcatters or pipeliners out there? The Alaska pipeline requires 12 pumping stations. How long of a run on a gas pipeline before it must be re-pressuriazed?

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:57 | 4891989 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

Exactly. This is what the has got the U>S bugged and they don't want to talk about it. People don't seem to understand the scale of what Russia and China just announced: multiples bigger than the North Slope project, one of the largest ever at the time.

There will be man camps with tens of thousands of men and women of every stripe. Engineers, accountants, planners,supervision, payroll, govt employees, x ray crews, thousands of truck drivers, sand crews, equipment operators, carpenters, oilers, mechanics, instrumentation, massive supply chains, cooks, galley hands, salemen, steel mills, tire plants, valve crews, compressor stations, supply dealers. The big shots will fly in on sSivorsky helicopters to apartment complexes built. Not to mention boom towns with equipment sales truck sales. bars and tittie dancers. That 55 billioon construction plus  500 billion in gas sales will go throught the economy by 100X. While we stand here going DERP

Our fucking politicians don't know how to create a freaking burger barn job. They simply don't care unless it lines their pocket or they can siphon it off to cronies

http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-china-pipeline-2014-5

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:18 | 4891611 orangegeek
orangegeek's picture

Austria is very nice for skiing in the winter

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:31 | 4891882 max2205
max2205's picture

And fucking 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:20 | 4891621 XuscitizenSweden
XuscitizenSweden's picture

 Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt is a true-blue 'amerikan'.

&

An 'asset' for the yanks since the 1970's.

Here' the proof:  http://www.svt.se/bildt--excellensen/carl-bildts-relation-till-usa-har-a...

Click on the 13 declassified documents at the left under the heading 'Relaterat'.

 

btw, this is my 1st comment here at ZH. :)

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:49 | 4891737 CrashisOptimistic
CrashisOptimistic's picture

That's a good comment.

But this is fight club so your next one may not be thought so.  Be prepared to fight.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:10 | 4891970 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

The USA sure takes a keen interest in Sweden's affairs.  I know one big banking family from Sweden runs the show in the country there, I wonder what their relations are with all the other private banking families in Europe?

Anyways I remember when I was in Stockholmn going into the McDonald's across the Main Train Terminal Downtown and I thought for a moment Victoria's Secret put their model's behind the counter as a publicity ploy.  That would be reason enough for the Yanks to have a keen interest in Sweden, but then there was the Summer City Festival in Goteborg, a week long party scene in a big college town, and I was SOLD especially after also enjoying the day at Liseberg, Northern Europe's biggest amusement park.  Too bad they have ruined a paradise with all the third world immigrants.  Some places there now look like a back alley in Kabul or Mogadishu.

For once there was paradise on Earth.  Now you only find tons of good looking babes like that in Eastern Europe and Russia.  The USA thought they were screwing Snowden over, they really just improved his dating prospects.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:30 | 4892123 25or6to4
25or6to4's picture

@Cosmos
I was exchange student to Sweden 79'-80' and couldn't agree with you more. The town I lived in, Norrköping, now has daily gang related shootings and turf wars. More closely resembles Chicago than the Sweden I knew. The government there is ever importing more of their destruction daily in the form of third world immigrants/refugees. By the way , Swedes have a department of "migration", not immigration. I thought it was only fish, birds and four legged animals that only "migrated".

Välkommen XuscitizenSweden

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:50 | 4891741 Oldrepublic
Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:03 | 4891788 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

Excellent video. Welcome aboard. My shallow posting below has a new dynamic twist. Continue to the fight club discussion. We only bark at trolls. Don't fear us. Winks. 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:41 | 4891905 pakled
pakled's picture

So why an X? The usual reasons we read here at ZH?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:39 | 4892045 XuscitizenSweden
XuscitizenSweden's picture

well... to answer your 2 questions, I'll make it simple......

hormones :)

BTW, Thank You All for the warm welcome!

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 04:01 | 4892292 EverythingEviL
EverythingEviL's picture

Thanks for the links. I read them from your other comment. Very interesting

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 04:13 | 4892299 IronForge
IronForge's picture

X-US_SWE

How's the IT/Tech Job Market doing in Sweden?  I've run into some ads from Headhunter Sites; but a good majority of them demanded near native proficiency in Swedish.  Do you know where all the Expat English Speaking Mercenaries and Entrepreneurs are networking?

Thanks!!

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 18:26 | 4895501 XuscitizenSweden
XuscitizenSweden's picture

Let me try to give you some helpful answers.

The IT/Tech is superhot, no question about it. Competition among native swedish speakers can be tuff, considering Swedes start learning the english language in school at the age of 10. I read somewhere about a year ago that Swedes are the best in Europe with english as a 2nd language.  Mercs & Contractors are/do best contacting any intelligence service, lol-just joking of course ;) . However, depending on your qualifications there is always work. Swedish can be learned in ½-2 years time depending on how good you are at learning languages. &, it's a very well-known secret Sweden & Norway are 'the real lands of opportunity' in the West. I say that with absolutely nothing against Danmark, Finland & Australia.

Hope this was helpful. IronForge.

Sat, 06/28/2014 - 17:47 | 4905914 IronForge
IronForge's picture

Thank you.

Getting that Work Visa for a short/mid term IT Contract has been difficult - even with in-demand DataWarehouse/ERP Skills and Previous Finance/Defense/Aerospace Experience and a Defense Department Security Clearance (expired). I've hit the EU Gig Sites (which opts for Long Terrm FT Employment), so hopefully, I'll run into Companies open to Project Minded Mercs.

Heck, I might even consider raising a Family in Sweden or in the Vicinity.  Save for a few schools in the USA, I wouldn't mind sending my (future) kids to European or East Asian Universities - aided by the NSA and Oil Oligarch Wars, Talent is wasted and fleeced here in the USA.

Best regards,

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:25 | 4891640 GrowingWorse
GrowingWorse's picture

Vlad Putin: A serious leader, for serious times.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:31 | 4891653 Duc888
Duc888's picture

 

 

 

John McCloy :Just be a beacon on unbridled freedom and let the rest care for themselves.

 

hahahahahaha yea, because the psycho's all want "freedom" and to rule over "free" people.  Pull my finger.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:30 | 4891654 Tachyon5321
Tachyon5321's picture

 

 

The answer is more coal

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:34 | 4891672 22winmag
22winmag's picture

No wonder CONgress is at 7% approval.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:35 | 4891675 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

I guess Russia is trying to help Austria distance themselves from Slovakia.  

Slovakia and Austria are on the same gas line from Ukraine and Slovakia has recently made a deal with Ukraine to ship gas backwards to them....

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:35 | 4891676 messystateofaffairs
messystateofaffairs's picture

Such good news. Fuck 'em up the ass with a ten foot pole Puty. I guess the Austrians are practicing some form of Austrian economics while US is continuing with their usual cronynomics.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:44 | 4891716 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

Dear White House,

No one wishes to conduct business with the EU. The scumbags just continue to steal future taxpayer wealth. What a irony, Russian economic development acts more capiatialist than current US Policy. Thanks to the communist dick weed in office.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:47 | 4891729 Lin S
Lin S's picture

Suddenly, "Fuck the EU" has taken on a whole new meaning.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:50 | 4891725 Lin S
Lin S's picture

* Addendum: I don't vote and refuse to do so...

...but I must confess a strong temptation to do it just so I can vote Vlad as a write-in candidate.

My oh my.

 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:51 | 4891736 Lin S
Lin S's picture

Dayum, put this guy in the cleanup spot.  He's hitting .383 with a .694 slugging percentage.  The power is epic!

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 21:59 | 4891769 tony wilson
tony wilson's picture

this is typical most young folks do not realise that adoff hilter was not germany but was an austrio hungarian like franz ferdinand and isabella.

austria still owes us jews compensation for allowing hilter to be born.

this was criminal neglligance and anti semetics.

many people do not realise that the new hilter is putin this is a replay of 1934 all overs again.

6 million jews live in austria we must protect them from the coming isis putin nazi hollow cause.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:51 | 4891937 Savyindallas
Savyindallas's picture

Tony  -are you drunk or are you joking? I'm serious. It's fine that you are a jew -can't help who your parents were -

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:48 | 4892154 WAMO556
WAMO556's picture

Whatever, mano!

I could give a shit less. One death is a tragedy and a million a statistic. Like jews are the only group ever slaughtered.

Was it jews that fed the lions in the Roman Coliseum?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:02 | 4891780 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Austria has the best banking system in Europe.

Hope Putin brings those reforms to Russia.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:07 | 4891810 MeBizarro
MeBizarro's picture

You'll be waiting for a while.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:12 | 4891835 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

bitch

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:03 | 4891784 RMolineaux
RMolineaux's picture

Some questions:

Will the US attempt to coerce Bulgaria into blocking the deal?

What new and ingenious idea will Brzezinski put forth in his life-long quest to weaken Russia?

What will happen to all the gas in Qatar?   Will Qatar and Saudi Arabia make a deal with Israel to pipe it into Europe?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:22 | 4891867 FeralSerf
FeralSerf's picture

Wait until the Emir's crew gets done in Iraq for an answer to that question.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:10 | 4891823 Circle of DNA
Circle of DNA's picture

I expect some Anglo-Zionist to come and try to shit all over this deal just  like they did in Bulgaria. Though it seems, unlike Poland, the rest of Europe is not so willing to give free blow jobs and offer an endless supply of well oiled anuses for their ZioNazi masters.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:11 | 4891828 MeBizarro
MeBizarro's picture

What is the source of the map used in this article and the 'proposed' gas lines which all conveniently bypass Ukraine? 

This deal isn't surprising either.  Simple one of geographic positioning and Austria's unique history including during the Cold War & their relations with the Russian before and afterwards.  Never have been completely in the Western/EU sphere and never pro-Russian either. 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:15 | 4891846 Dewey Cheatum Howe
Dewey Cheatum Howe's picture

 

http://www.naturalgaseurope.com/kjetil-tungland-tap-trans-adriactic-pipe...

Article is from 2012.

...

The most important milestone for the Southern Gas Corridor in the near future is of course the establishing of the access route to Caspian gas. Shah Deniz is expected to make a final selection between Nabucco West and TAP in early 2013. So, in the context of the race for Caspian gas, Nabucco West is our one and only remaining competitor.

As far as TANAP is concerned, we are very much positively influenced by the successful development of this pipeline project. With TANAP Shah Deniz has finally received a suitable solution for transportation of their gas all the way from Azerbaijan through the territory of Turkey. We enjoy close cooperation with the developers of TANAP and regularly discuss our interconnection plans with them.  Overall, TANAP is very important for the success of TAP as we are pieces in the same value chain.

South Stream development does not interfere with our plans at all. Recently Gazprom announced their decision to exclude the southern leg option of the South Stream, which originally passed through Greece to southern Italy, similarly to our route. Gazprom representatives explained they are doing this because of TAP, as we already plan to bring gas to this area. So, in this sense we are not competing and there is no negative influence on our development plans from South Stream.

...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Anatolian_gas_pipeline

...

The pipeline is expected to cost US$7 billion. The construction is planned to start in 2014 and to be completed by 2018

...

Route

The pipeline will run from Georgian–Turkish border to Turkish European border.[3] The exact route of the pipeline is not clear. However, it was announced that one branch from Turkey would go to Greece and the other to Bulgaria.[11] It would be connected with Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Adriatic_Pipeline

...

Supply sources

The pipeline would be supplied by natural gas from the second stage of the Shah Deniz gas field development in the Azerbaijani section of Caspian Sea through the South Caucasus Pipeline and the planned Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP).

...

Looks like the battlefield for the Southern Corridor is going to move to Turkey or Albania next and Northern Corridor to Bulgaria.

And not surprisingly.

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-439_en.htm

Brussels, 24 June 2014

EU candidate status for Albania

At the General Affairs Council meeting today in Luxembourg, Ministers from the EU Member States have agreed – based on the recommendation by the European Commission (see report) to grant EU candidate status to Albania, subject to endorsement by EU heads of states at the forthcoming European Council on Friday in Brussels. This is a clear step forward in EU-Albania relations, reflecting the progress the country has made in European integration and in implementing the necessary reforms. Today's decision underlines the EU's continued and credible commitment to support Albania in its efforts towards this goal.

...

Can you say TAP.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:19 | 4891860 Dewey Cheatum Howe
Dewey Cheatum Howe's picture

And most importantly Nabucco or not the feeder points are still in play and Turkey sits at the center of the transportation routes.

http://www.rferl.org/content/nabucco-west-pipeline-rejection/25028589.html

Austrian energy company OMV has announced that the consortium developing Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz-2 natural-gas and oil field has rejected using the proposed multibillion-dollar Nabucco West pipeline.

OMV, the lead partner of the Nabucco West group, released a statement on June 26 saying the consortium informed the firm about "the decision on their preferred gas-transportation route to Europe."

The decision means it's likely the shorter and cheaper Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will be used to carry the gas extracted from under the Caspian Sea to the European market.

Nabucco West and TAP were the only two bidders in the project to transport the Azerbaijani gas.

...

 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:40 | 4891903 Dewey Cheatum Howe
Dewey Cheatum Howe's picture

And concerning GUAM, gas and Azerbaijan and Georgia (signing an association pact with the EU, the same pact Ukraine signed and pulled out of that those protests and regime change sparked).

Looks like they are going to duke it out politically first concerning disputed borders in the Caspian Sea before they regime changes are started but I said before it is easier to wrest control after the fact and harder to get an agreement done it is the old let the young and hungry build it then the established players come in steal it from them afterwards game.

The dispute is whether the Caspian is a sea or a lake. Some reading on this.

You have the following players

Russia, Kazakhstan (CIS)

Turkmenistan - shipping all gas eastward away from Europe now

Azerbaijan (EU friendly)

Iran

http://www.eia.gov/countries/regions-topics.cfm?fips=csr

http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/gaming-system-caspian-sea-can-game-...

As one can see regardless of border disputes Russia could with Iran in fold could wind up controlling the majority of the gas and oil in the region anyways and it is in US and EU's interest to not rock this boat since it sits close enough to Russia's border that they will be vigiliant in dealing with terrorist troublemakers which makes not rocking the boat in both interests here if Azerbaijan is included in an overall Caspian Sea security agreement.

 

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:16 | 4891986 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

Click and Clack would be proud of your investigative work...

Nice research

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:29 | 4891877 Joe Tierney
Joe Tierney's picture

"Well, to me, Russia has always been a real gas"

 

I'll bet the gas trx done thru South Stream won't be settled in U.S. Toilet Paper (dollars).

 

If the euros really want to solve their gas problems they could always turn to the KerryGas-GoreGas-O'Gas Consortium. The pipelines are daisy-chained from butt-to-mouth and are already in place. They just need to tap into them. There's enough methane there to blow the lid clear off the whole Western financial/economic/geopolitical swindle.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:37 | 4891898 Mister Minsk
Mister Minsk's picture

The noose is getting tighter for some Euro trash!

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:44 | 4891912 BandGap
BandGap's picture

He gots the gas and he kicks the ass!

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:27 | 4892011 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

And Bath House got it in the Ass!

(oh, wait....)

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 22:58 | 4891948 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

More bad news for Obama's Kiev Nazi Circus. The best laid plans and 15 billion dollars in payoffs and nazi funding, yet a former KGB officer and talented fisherman has once again made bloody fools of America's overpaid and underskilled State Department and CIA. Do we ever wonder what we get for the billions we pour into State Department and CIA? I know we get highly paid fuckups, and tens of thousands of highly paid retirees in their 50's, living off of our tax payer funded early pensions. But, they fucked up in Vietnam, fucked up in Afghanistan, fucked up in Iraq, fucked up in Syria, Fucked up in Ukraine, fucked up in Libya, etc. etc. Why in heck do we keep employing these cunts? Failure seems to be an option for these government servants. Or, servants of the elites I should say. Iraq made many corporations very fucking rich. So perhaps that is how they measure success?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:05 | 4891966 jldpc
jldpc's picture

You nailed it.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:06 | 4891967 jldpc
jldpc's picture

You nailed it.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 01:36 | 4892209 One of We
One of We's picture

Yeah, but they kicked the shit out of Granada and Panama so there.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 11:29 | 4893467 nicxios
nicxios's picture

That's why Hollywood made Argo. 'Look, a CIA success story. Must be alot like them we don't know about.' thinks average 'Murican.

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:37 | 4892032 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

You have to give my Russian wife credit for finding this local garlic fest.  She asked if I wanted to go.  Yes, we are going.   

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 03:53 | 4892289 napper
napper's picture

You are going over there just to buy garlic? A mail order makes a lot more sense. NO?

 

How much for a pound?

Tue, 06/24/2014 - 23:40 | 4892046 Arkadaba
Wed, 06/25/2014 - 09:41 | 4892076 HowardBeale
HowardBeale's picture

Putin--Warren 2016, or

Warren--Black 2016, or

Not Democrats--Not Republicans Forever!

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:00 | 4892084 SilvertonguedAngel
SilvertonguedAngel's picture

Meanwhile, at the golf course...Obama scores another mulligan!

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:20 | 4892118 Dublinmick
Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:42 | 4892145 Circle of DNA
Wed, 06/25/2014 - 09:17 | 4892789 Vracar
Vracar's picture

I down arrowd you by accident, wanted to press link...sorry

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:49 | 4892147 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

I once showed up at a freshman high school dance in jeans.

The DC US must be feeling about now like I felt at that dance.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:48 | 4892155 Joe A
Joe A's picture

The country that is really going to be fucked in this geopolitical game (as it usually is) is Serbia. Not a EU member yet they come under pressure from both the EU/USA and Russia. Serbia wants to have both EU membership and South Stream but might end up with neither.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:54 | 4892159 Arkadaba
Arkadaba's picture

Just because it is saturday and the weekend - why I love gaming - led by a girl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJVolaC8pw

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:53 | 4892160 Arkadaba
Arkadaba's picture

Just because it is saturday and the weekend - why I love gaming - led by a girl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJVolaC8pw

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 00:57 | 4892166 damicol
damicol's picture

I stronly suggest tha when referring to Mr Pitin that Zero hedge uses the following ,

 

The Energy Minster for Europe, Mr Putin says....

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 02:14 | 4892231 zdk45
zdk45's picture

We are Nearing the End Winthorpe...the machines can't stay on like this too much longer. Mark my words.

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