Follow The Money!!

New Pipeline To Tap The Caspian Sea Gas Bonanza

From Jim Marrs <<jmarrs@ntws.net>> 09-18-01

"The 48-inch diameter pipeline will extend 790 miles (1,271 kilometers) from the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan border, generally follow the Herat-to-Kandahar Road THROUGH AFGHANISTAN (emphasis added), cross the Pakistan border in the vicinity of Quetta, and terminate in Multan,Pakistan, where it will tie into an existing pipeline system."

..They say follow the money. Well, here's the money trail. Everyone from Hitler on down has wanted the Caspian Sea oil and with the fall of communism, the international bankers finally got some control over this resource. The problem is that to get this oil to the West requires a pipeline that would have to go through Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. But the fundamentalist Muslim governments of this places won't play ball so...they get another agent like Ho Chi Minh, in this case Osama bin-Laden, who was funded and encouraged by our CIA to fight the Russians in Afghanistan, to be the Bugagoo, either by instigation or merely by allowing his attacks. Then, in the ensuing unthinking surge of patriotism, either US troops or a UN coalition moves into the area to wipe out the "terrorists" and install "democratically aligned" governments and, bingo, the obstacles to the Central Asia Pipeline disappear and the profit line is increased at only the cost of several thousand human lives, unfortunate but necessary in this age of overpopulation.

It's a grander replay of the Gulf War but it's still about oil, a commodity dear to the heart of the Bush family.

Consortium Formed To Build Central Asia Gas Pipeline October 27, 1997

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, - Six international companies and the Government of Turkmenistan formed Central Asia Gas Pipeline, Ltd. (CentGas) in formal signing ceremonies here Saturday. The group is developing a project to build a 790-mile (1,271-kilometer) pipeline to link Turkmenistan's abundant proven natural gas reserves with growing markets in Pakistan. The group is also considering an extension of the line to the New Delhi area in India. "This is a truly significant step in the development of this project," said John F. Imle, Jr., president of Unocal Corporation . Unocal was appointed by the Government of Turkmenistan to lead the project development activities and form the gas pipeline consortium. A Unocal subsidiary will serve as development manager for CentGas. "The interest shown by major international companies underscores both the attractiveness of the proposed pipeline and the significant economic benefits it can bring to the region. This project could be the foundation for a new commerce corridor for the region -- often referred to as the Silk Road for the 21st century. The CentGas consortium will initially include the following companies, either directly or through affiliates: Unocal Corporation, US, 46.5 percent; Delta Oil Company Limited (Saudi Arabia), 15 percent; the Government of Turkmenistan, 7 percent; Indonesia Petroleum, LTD.(INPEX) (Japan), 6.5 percent; ITOCHU Oil Exploration Co.,Ltd. (CIECO) (Japan), 6.5 percent; Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (Korea), 5 percent; and the Crescent Group (Pakistan), 3.5 percent. RAO Gazprom (Russia) has indicated an interest in signing the consortium agreements formalizing a 10 percent share in the project in the near future.

The proposed pipeline will carry natural gas from the Dauletabad Field, in southeastern Turkmenistan at a rate of up to 2 billion cubic feet per day (20 billion cubic meters per year). The Dauletabad Field has independently certified reserves of more then 25 trillion cubic feet (708 billion cubic meters). The Government of Turkmenistan has guaranteed deliverability of 25 trillion cubic feet (708 billion cubic meters) of natural gas exclusively for the Central Asia Gas Pipeline. Much or all of this gas is expected to come from the Dauletabad Field. The inaugural memorandum of understanding between the governments of Turkmenistan and Pakistan for the CentGas project was signed in March 1995. "The formation of the consortium is another major milestone achieved in accordance with the requirements of protocols and agreements previously signed with the Governments of Turkmenistan and Pakistan," said Marty Miller, Unocal Corporation vice president responsible for new ventures in Central Asia and Pakistan. Miller pointed out that the project still faces significant economic, political and commercial challenges, such as finalizing mutually acceptable commercial agreements and agreements with transit countries. "This project has exceptionally sound economic fundamentals, given the presence of proven gas reserves in Turkmenistan and the market needs of Pakistan and India. The Dauletabad Field has produced well over 2 billion cubic feet per day in the past and is capable of producing that volume today. With the right development program, the Field will continue to be able to produce natural gas at this rate long into the future.

No other import project can provide such volumes of natural gas to these markets at a lower price." The proposed natural gas pipeline would stretch from the Turkmenistan/Afghanistan border in southeastern Turkmenistan to Multan, Pakistan (790 miles, 1,271 kilometers), with a 400-mile (640-kilometer) extension to India under consideration. Estimated cost of the project is US$1.9 billion for the segment to Pakistan and an additional US$600 million for the extension to India.

This news release contains forward-looking information, including projections of future business plans and potential capital expenditures. Actual results could differ materially from these ojections. CentGas Consortium Members: Unocal Corporation (U.S.), 46.5 percent Founded over 100 years ago, Unocal is one of the world's leading energy resource and project development companies providing regional integrated energy solutions. Unocal has reserves of more than 9.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (1.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent) and major oil and gas production activities in Asia and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Delta Oil Company Limited (Saudi Arabia), 15 percent Delta Oil Company Limited, a private Saudi-owned company... The Government of Turkmenistan, 7 percent Indonesia Petroleum, LTD. (INPEX) (Japan),6.5% ITOCHU Oil Exploration Co., Ltd. (CIECO) (Japan), 6.5 Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (Korea), 5 percent The Crescent Group (Pakistan), 3.5 percent

The Resource: Dauletabad Field is one of the largest gas fields in the world. DeGolyer & MacNaughton, an internationally recognized petroleum engineering firm, has thoroughly evaluated the field's reserves. These evaluations clearly show that the field's resources are adequate for project needs, assuming production rates of roughly 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day (15 billion cubic meters of gas per year) for 30 years or more. The Government of Turkmenistan has guaranteed deliverability of 25 trillion cubic feet (709 billion cubic meters) of natural gas exclusively for this project. Much or all of this gas is expected to come from the Dauletabad Field. Source: Central Asia Gas Pipeline, Ltd.