Ashgabat asks Total to study gas transp'tion possibilities.

ASHGABAT, November 24 (Itar-Tass) - The French Total Corporation, at a
request from Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, will
study possibilities for the transportation of Turkmen gas across the
Caspian Sea, Total General Director Christophe de Margerie announced
Tuesday in a live broadcast of Turkmen television after his meeting with
the Head of Turkmenistan.
The French businessman said, "The President of Turkmenistan related
the country's intentions to boost the export of oil and gas to new
markets. The theme concerning possibilities for the export of gas across
the Caspian Sea with due regard for a solution to ecological matters was
found to be of current importance".
The Turkmen president pointed out the French Corporation-gained
experience in the world, as well as the fact that the Total has available
not only modern technologies in the oil and gas sector but also has
achievements relating to the environmental safety of projects.
A Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project is part of the Nabucco project
for the transportation of Central Asia gas to Europe in circumvention of
Russia. The environmental aspect was the main argument put forward by
opponents of the project. Yet another restraining factor for Nabucco was
uncertainty about the raw-materials basis.
Speaking at the "Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan - 2010" conference, held
in Ashgabat last week, Turkmen Vice-Premier Baimurad Khodzhamukhamedov,
who is in charge of the fuel-and-energy sector matters, stated
possibilities for the republic to transport up to 40,000 million cubic
metres of gas a year to Europe via a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline.

.Medvedev, party leaders to discuss HUS modernization.

MOSCOW, November 24 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on
Wednesday will continue to tackle the problems of the housing/utilities
sector (HUS): he is to discuss plans for the modernization of HUS with the
leaders of political parties that are represented in the State Duma lower
house of parliament.
Boris Gryzlov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the United Russia
party and Speaker of the State Duma, Sergei Mironov, leader of the Just
Russia party and Speaker of the Federation Council upper house of
parliament, as well as Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of
the Russian Federation, and Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the Liberal
Democratic Party of Russia, have been invited to the regular meeting.
Gryzlov told journalists on Tuesday, "The set of matters concerning
HUS requires an additional discussion and consultations with the
President".

.New air terminal to be built in St Petersburg.

ST PETERSBURG, November 24 (Itar-Tass) - A ceremony marking the start
of the construction of a modern air passenger terminal at Pulkovo is to be
held here on Wednesday. The first pile is to be driven into the foundation
of the new air terminal during the ceremony.
The project to develop the Pulkovo airport is being implemented on the
basis of the State-and-private partnership (SPP) by the Air Gate of the
Northern Capital consortium consisting of the companies VTB Capital
(Russia), Fraport (Germany), and Kopeluzos Group (Greece). As of now, this
is the first large-scale infrastructure project being implemented on SPP
principles without drawing on State subsidies.
It is planned that the airport will be modernized and reconstructed in
two phases. During the first phase (2010-2013), it is planned to bring
into being a new passenger air terminal under a project drawn up by the
British Grimshaw Architects bureau. Construction costs are estimated by
specialists at approximately 43,000 million roubles.
The reconstruction of the Pulkovo-1 is to begin during the second
phase when the new air terminal will come into operation. When all the
building work is completed, the Pulkovo-1 will be connected up to the new
terminal to combine domestic and international air services.
By 2014, St Petersburg is to create an up-to-date airport designed to
cater for 14-17 million passengers a year. A plan for the development of
the air transportation complex for a period ending in 2040 has been
already worked out. Under the plan, the airport will be able to receive
more than 30 million passengers a year.

.Medvedev to hold talks with PRC Premier Wednesday.

MOSCOW, November 24 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
will hold talks with Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the
People's Republic of China (PRC), on Wednesday. Mr. Wen is currently in
Russia on an official visit to attend the 15th regular meeting between the
Heads of Government.
The Russian President and the Premier of the PRC State Council first
met in 2007 during Medvedev's visit to Beijing as First Vice-Premier.
During the official visit to the PRC in September this year, the Russian
leader said, "Our relations of strategic partnership become and are one of
factors in international development". The Head of the Chinese
Government, for his part, emphasized that "The PRC and Russia regard each
other as priorities in their foreign policy. It can be rightfully said
that our friendship is strong and will stand any tests".