News as of September 28th

[stepanstas]

It appears to me that my posts are getting a lot more views, yet no replies. I will contitnue to offer questions in the end, to see your opinions.

Ukraine to Save Russia from Frosts

Russia hopes to overcome a possible electricity shortage this winter by supplies from Ukraine where Russia is set to generate energy from gas made on commission. Ukraine is to lift a legal barrier on tolling energy exports before October 15.
The Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Ministry and Russia▓s electricity grid RAO UES of Russia have been in talks on supplying electric power produced from tolling gas since summer. Ukrainian Deputy Fuel and Energy Minister Alexey Sheberstov told Kommersant that the talks were reinvigorated after RAO UES asked the ministry to help it meet a power energy shortage which is expected in Russia this winter.

RAO UES has been repeatedly criticizing Russia▓s gas monopolist Gazprom for inadequately small gas supplies for the national power industry. RAO UES says, however, that larger supplies will hardly boost the capacity of the electricity grid. The company also mentions the poor state of electricity networks across the country. ⌠Even if we had the required supplies, we would still be unable to send the energy through the grids,■ RAO UES says. ⌠There are regions in Russia with plenty of energy, but we cannot send it further because of bad grids.■

RAO UES declines to name the expected shortage saying that it is different for every region. For example, the total electricity shortage in Moscow, Tymen and St. Petersburg is as much as 3,000 MWt.

Russia and Ukraine are reportedly discussing the supply of 1,900 MWt a month. The energy is generated from amounts of extra gas that Ukraine receives.

UKRAINE'S MUSICAL CONDOM

A Ukrainian has invented a condom that plays music during sex, Korrespondent magazine reported.

A miniature loudspeaker and motion sensor implanted in the condom's upper cuff provides a range of musical tones during sex.

Music volume depends on intensity of love-making. Tone varies based on the sexual position adopted by lovers.

Scientist Hryhory Chausovsky developed the birth control device as a novelty and as an aid for more pleasurable love-making, he said.

The condom's main limitation is primitive sound quality, similar to tones produced by first-generation mobile phones.

But its volume would serve not only to assist lovers in obtaining higher quality sex, but also inform them when an erection is present, Mr Chausovsky said.

Mr Chausovsky is now looking for a financial backer to raise funds and put the condom into mass production.

Russia accuses Ukraine of language discrimination

Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry accused Ukraine of discrimination against Russian speakers in the country.
In the diplomatic note sent Wedensday, the Russian MFA singled out legislators from the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc for being hostile to the Russian language. According to the Russians, they oppose Rada speaker Oleksandr Moroz▓s and Kyiv mayor Leonid Chernovetsky▓s use of the Russian language in parliament and in city hall. Russia▓s ambassador to Ukraine told 5 Kanal that he knows absolutely nothing about the diplomatic note. The Tymoshenko bloc meanwhile, referred to the Russian MFA▓s note as meddling in Ukraine▓s internal affairs.

Natural gas price for Ukraine to remain at $95 in Q4 - Gazprom

MOSCOW, September 27 (RIA Novosti) - The price Ukraine pays for a mixture of Russian and Central Asian natural gas will remain unchanged at $95 per 1,000 cubic meters until the end of 2006, the Russian energy giant said Wednesday.

Ukraine currently imports a mixture of Russian and Turkmen gas. The price formula is based on a European rate of $230 for Russian gas and $60 for the Central Asian republic's gas.

Following talks between Gazprom chief Alexei Miller and Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko, the company said: "To ensure acceptable price conditions, the scheme for gas supplies through the joint venture Rosukrenergo will stay in place."

An official from trading company Rosukrenergo, the focal point of a deal to end a gas price spat between Russia and Ukraine in January, said: "In view of the potential for long-term cooperation with Ukraine, we are ready to deliver gas at this price."

Earlier in September, Gazprom agreed to a 50% price rise, to $100 per 1,000 cubic meters, for its supplies from Turkmenistan.

At the talks with Ukraine, the sides agreed on an annual volume of 55 bln cu m in 2007-2009, which Gazprom considers to be sufficient for the country's needs, the company statement said.

Russia, which holds the world's largest reserves of natural gas, is Ukraine's main gas supplier. The issue of gas deliveries has become vital this year, following a price row in January, when Gazprom raised gas prices to world market levels and cut off supplies to its ex-Soviet neighbor. It later accused Ukraine of siphoning off Europe-bound transit gas.

Please answer the following questions:

• How do you see this, Ukraine will be helping Russia with energy, and Ukraine gets to have the same gas prices?
• Do you think that Russia's Gas prices are high enought?
• Do you feel that Russian speakers are not treated right?
• Do you think that Yuschenko's speach saying that all politians should speak Ukrainian had an effect on this?
• Anything you would like to say about the musical condom?
• How much do you think gas prices will rise for Ukraine after Q4?

[JG]

How do you see this, Ukraine will be helping Russia with energy, and Ukraine gets to have the same gas prices?

I did not see any implication that Ukraine would be GIVING electricity to Russia. I guess the price for swapping electricity for gas would be set in line with the rising costs of energy.

Do you think that Russia's Gas prices are high enough?

There is an agreement in place unti January. The snag is that Turkmenistan has raised their price to Russia from $65 to $100 per 1000 cubic metres.

Do you feel that Russian speakers are not treated right?
Do you think that Yuschenko's speach saying that all politians should speak Ukrainian had an effect on this?

I think this is an issue which serves only to open the divide between east and west Ukraine. It won't reduce the utility prices, create jobs or help the economy.

Anything you would like to say about the musical condom?

i have no comment.

How much do you think gas prices will rise for Ukraine after Q4?

Given the rise in Turkmen prices, $95 looks cheap. My guess is it will have to rise - maybe to $120 or so.

[stepanstas]

Originally Posted by JG

How do you see this, Ukraine will be helping Russia with energy, and Ukraine gets to have the same gas prices?

I did not see any implication that Ukraine would be GIVING electricity to Russia. I guess the price for swapping electricity for gas would be set in line with the rising costs of energy.

Do you think that Russia's Gas prices are high enough?

There is an agreement in place unti January. The snag is that Turkmenistan has raised their price to Russia from $65 to $100 per 1000 cubic metres.

Do you feel that Russian speakers are not treated right?
Do you think that Yuschenko's speach saying that all politians should speak Ukrainian had an effect on this?

I think this is an issue which serves only to open the divide between east and west Ukraine. It won't reduce the utility prices, create jobs or help the economy.

Anything you would like to say about the musical condom?

i have no comment.

How much do you think gas prices will rise for Ukraine after Q4?

Given the rise in Turkmen prices, $95 looks cheap. My guess is it will have to rise - maybe to $120 or so.

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I am not really undestanding the whole issue about the energy, but it would be nice if there was a trade
Engergy for Gas (Doubt it would happen)

As always, i feel that Ukrainian should be spoken in Ukraine
You are right, it will not make any major improvement, but it will make me feel better

I wonder if Ukraine will seek for another alternative
I dont think it can afford raised prices, considering its debts