Augulis: Azerbaijan could consider investing in Latvian ports an d logistics centers
Alla Petrova, BC, Riga, 21.04.2011.
There is unused potential in Latvian -Azerbaijan cooperation in the tran sportation sector, an d Azerbaijan could consider investing in Latvian ports an d logistics centers, Latvian Tran sport Minister Uldis Augulis (Union of Greens an d Farmers) an d Azerbaijan Ambassador to Latvia Elman Zeynalov agreed yesterday.
Elman Zeynalov an d Uldis Augulis. Riga, 20.04.2011. Photo: sam.gov.lv
Augulis offered to use Latvian tran sport system for the tran sit of Azerbaijan goods, including a 24-hour delivery of goods from Latvian logistics centers an d warehouses to stores in Helsinki, Stockholm, Minsk, Warsaw an d Moscow, the Tran sport Ministry informed the business information portal "Nozare.lv".
The sides also discussed flights between Riga an d Baku. From May 11, Latvian national airline airBaltic once again will offer seasonal flights between both capitals. airBaltic will fly from Riga to Baku twice a week, an d, from June 6 until the end of summer – three times a week. Zeynalov pointed out that Azerbaijan is interested in regular flights between both capitals also during the winter, an d urged Augulis to discuss the issue with the airline, informs LETA.
Ansip: Estonia an d Kazakhstan should cooperate in tran sit, IT an d energy
Juhan Tere, BC, Tallinn, 21.04.2011.
Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip an d Kazakhstan ’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev agreed at their meeting on Wednesday in Tallinn that there is great potential in the economic cooperation of the two states concerning tran sit, information an d communication technology an d oil shale energy industry, LETA/Delfi reports.
Andrus Ansip an d Nursultan Nazarbayev. Tallinn, 20.04.2011. Photo: valitsus.ee
Ansip introduced to Nazarbajyev Estonia’s e-government an d IT-Demokeskus made a presentation on e-services based on digital identification.
“Despite the fact that the relations between the two state are very good an d trade has increased in recent years, we could have potential for much more in economic relations,” said Ansip, adding that Kazakhstan could be on a higher position than 21st in the list of Estonia’s trade partners.
Ansip an d Nazarbayev meet also on Thursday for a working lunch together with an Estonian business delegation.
Tallinna Sadam signs contract to build a fertiliser plan t in Muuga port
Juhan Tere, BC, Tallinn, 21.04.2011.
Estonian state-owned port operator AS Tallinna Sadam an d OÜ Tehnonord signed this week a cooperation agreement to build a fertiliser gran ulation plan t in the Muuga port near Tallinn, LETA/Eesti Päevaleht Online reports.
The construction of the first stage of the plan t should start in 2012 an d the plan t should be completed in 2014.
The total production of the plan t will be 140,000 tonnes a year an d the plan t will cost the operator nearly 18 mln USD.
AS Tallinna Sadam board chairman Ain Kaljuran d said that there is high deman d for fertilisers in Western Europe an d the potential clientele of Tehnonord is in German y, Irelan d an d Hollan d. Raw material comes from Russia, plan t installation from the USA an d the plan t will be man ned by local staff.
Tehnonord OÜ man ager Oleksan dr Filatov said that the decision to build the plan t in Muuga port made because of the good location an d natural conditions of the port an d favourable business climate in Estonia. Tehnonord’s partner in this project is British compan y Amsprill Fertilizers & Technologies Ltd.
Klaipedos Nafta receives court claim from Naftos Grupe
Petras Vaida, BC, Vilnius, 21.04.2011.
Lithuan ia-based oil enterprise Klaipedos Nafta obtained a claim from Naftos Grupe filed on April 18, 2011, to the Klaipeda District Court for allegedly incurred losses in amount of 17 million litas, as Klaipedos Nafta reported to NASDAQ OMX Vilnius.
The claim filed by Naftos Grupe states the compensation from Klaipedos Nafta for alleged loss for oil products surplus. Besides, Naftos Grupe deman ds to recognize a service agreement dated 22-12-2004, Nr. 12-12-2005, that was can celled allegedly due to Klaipedos Nafta fault, reports LETA/ELTA.
In the mean time, Klaipedos Nafta's man agement intends to assess the validity of the claim an d the potential finan cial impact on the compan y's finan cial results for the year 2010.
President Ilves: Estonia will become Kazakhstan ’s gate to the sea
Juhan Tere, BC, Tallinn, 20.04.2011.
Estonian ports are ready to help Kazakhstan to reach the sea an d global trade, said Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the meeting with Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan , who arrived in Estonia for a state visit on Wednesday.
Nursultan Nazarbayev an d Toomas Hendrik Ilves. Tallinn, 20.04.2011. Photo: president.ee
“Kazakhstan plays an importan t role in Central Asia an d in generally maintaining stability an d security,” said President Ilves.
President Ilves acknowledged Kazakhstan 's efforts during the Presidency of the Organ isation of Security an d Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010 an d the work done by Kazakhstan as this year’s leading country of the Shan ghai Co-operation Organ isation, which is aimed, among other things, at promoting cultural an d religious diversity. Kazakhstan also holds this year’s presidency of the OIC, Organ isation of Islamic Conference, an d continues to promote close contacts between the east an d the west an d a convergence of different understan dings, writes LETA.
“During its current negotiations to join the World Trading Organ isation (WTO), Kazakhstan can rely upon Estonia’s support,” President Ilves assured. “We also support the swift launching of negotiations for entering into a new partnership an d co-operation agreement between the European Union an d Kazakhstan .”
He reminded that Estonia an d Kazakhstan live at crossroads of large trade routes – the Han seatic Road an d the Silk Road – an d added: “These historic relations should be revived an d connected. Oil an d gas are now moving from the east to the west along the Silk Road, while innovative technologies an d man y other things travel from the west to the east.”
“Estonian harbours are ready to help Kazakhstan to reach the sea an d global trade,” said President Ilves.
Ilves described the commitees of the governments of the two countries as successful. Working groups have been established in spheres of mutual interest – tran sport, tran sit, energy, information technology.
“I do not doubt that the economic relations between our two countries will be boosted by the agreement to facilitate investments an d mutual protection, signed today in Kadriorg by the Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs an d the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan ,” said President Ilves.
He encouraged everyone to view the relations between two countries in a scope wider than just economic interests, as “The principles of e-governan ce, which extend a state externally an d expan d beyond its borders, as one of the keys to Estonia’s success, is an experience we can share with man y, Kazakhstan included, without being ashamed. And if we are to add opportunities for studying in Estonia universities, within the framework of student exchan ge, or our first, internationally supported steps in the sphere of cyber security, we will see how man y levels communication between Estonia an d Kazakhstan could cover.”
Presidents Ilves an d Nazarbayev had also a long discussion regarding the situation in Central Asia.
President Nazarbayev will today meet with the Speaker of the Riigikogu, Ms Ene Ergma, an d the Prime Minister, Mr. Andrus Ansip. In the evening, the Estonian Head of State will hold a dinner to honour the guest. Tomorrow, the Head of State of Kazakhstan will meet President Arnold Rüütel an d Mr. Edgar Savisaar, the Mayor of Tallinn.
Tallink suffered LVL 1.4 mln in losses due to Riga – Stockholm route in 2010
Alla Petrova, BC, Riga, 20.04.2011.
Estonian shipping compan y Tallink suffered EUR 2 million (LVL 1.4 million) in losses due to the Riga – Stockholm route in 2010. At the same time, the compan y predicts that this route will soon become profitable, Tallink Vice President Andres Hunt informed LETA Video an d the business information portal Nozare.lv.
Hunt emphasizes that the difference between LVL 1.4 million losses an d profit is not too significan t, however, Riga will have to develop its infrastructure so that the city would become an attractive destination for Swedish tourists, writes LETA.
The vice president points out that it is necessary to increase the passenger flow an d revenue an d only then Riga – Stockholm route will become profitable. If the development continues an d the number of passengers increases then there is a hope that the route will soon become profitable, said Hunt.
Hunt explains that by increasing the compan y's market share, Tallink wan ts to encourage Lithuan ian tourists to spend holidays onboard Riga – Stockholm ferries.
The vice president admits that the compan y did not expect such an economic situation like the past two years. "Those were difficult times, an d the developments in economy also affected our business activities, said Hunt.
Ventbunkers turnover decreased by 43.83% in Q1
Alla Petrova, BC, Riga, 19.04.2011.
The joint-stock compan y Ventbunkers reloaded 601,000 tons of oil products at Ventspils port in the first quarter of 2011, which is 43.83% or 469,000 tons less than over the same period last year. The turnover of residual fuel oil decreased 74.21% or 610,000 tons, as the spokesperson for Ventspils port, Inga Ievina, informed LETA.
In Jan uary, the tran sit of residual fuel oil was stalled at the Ventspils port terminal due to the dispute between Ventbunkers an d the Lukoil subsidiary Litasco. The dispute had a negative impact on Ventbunkers' an d Ventspils port's turnover. This past Jan uary, Ventbunkers han dled 145,000 tons of oil products, which is 52.77% less than in Jan uary 2010.
Ventbunkers previously explained that Litasco refused to send a ship to Ventbunkers terminal to reload 120,000 metrical tons of Litasco residual fuel oil, which prevented the compan y from accepting thousan ds of Litasco railcar tan kers for discharging.
Ventbunkers storage facilities were full, an d the compan y was not able to han dle additional cargo, therefore export of residual fuel oil through Latvia was paralyzed.
On February 9, Ventbunkers an d Litasco reached an agreement an d resolved to remove 1,774 railcar tan kers with 106,000 tons of residual fuel oil from Latvian railroad tracks.
Ventspils port han dled 7.16 million tons of cargo in the first quarter of 2011, which is 0.67% less than in the respective period of time last year.
Port dues reduced by 30% to car carrier ships calling Klaipeda Port
Dan uta Pavilenene, BC, Vilnius, 19.04.2011.
Considering chan ges in market Lithuan ian Ministry of Tran sport suggested to decrease port dues by 30% to car carrier ships calling Klaipėda Port. The suggested maximum due amount was approved by the Government on April 13, informed BC the press service of Klaipeda Port, referring to the Ministry.
„Klaipėda Port seeking to render services to car carrier ships from now on will be able to compete better with other Baltic Ports. The navigation market of such type presently is under development therefore while creating favourable conditions we may become importan t an d competitive market player“, – told the Minister of Tran sport Eligijus Masiulis.
By now an y no an y special dues applied to car carrier ships have been established both in Klaipėda Port an d in the rival Ports of Latvia an d Estonia. Ships of such type are comparable to Ro-Ro ships an d relative port dues tariffs are applied to them.
Mean while car carrier ships have a number of unique characteristics; their gross tonnage is rather big an d the tran sported cargo – vehicles – is not heavy. Considering this circumstan ce Ventspils Port in 2009 chan ged the order of dues applied to Ro-Ro ships simply relating the due amount to cargo weight an d in this order resulted into the fact that since then the Port has become the cheapest Port for car carrier ships.
„ Lithuan ia, establishing separate vessel, quay an d navigation dues to car carrier ships cuts dues to ships of such type by 30%“ – told the Minister of Tran sport. According to the Minister Klaipėda Port will be able to compete with other neighbouring ports more successfully.
According to E. Masiulis Klaipeda Port will compete with other regional Ports in tran sportation of USA an d other NATO member countries ro–ro cargo returned from Afghan istan . Ships accommodated to tran sport vehicles are namely the car carrier ships, therefore lower dues will contribute in competition for tran sit cargo tran sportation.
Since 2009 tractors man ufactured in Belarus have been exported via Klaipėda Port, last year tran sportation of Ro-Ro cargo from Russia started via Klaipėda Port. Klaipėda Port has still not realized its potential in distribution of bran d new cars in the Port. There is an expectation that decreased dues will induce man ufacturers of new cars to benefit from Port services rendered for warehousing an d distribution of their production in the region.
Lowered Port dues should induce tran sportation of Ro – ro cargo via Klaipėda Port an d attract more ships of such type. The increased number of such ships should generate large incomes to stevedoring compan ies operating in the Port, Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, SC Lietuvos geležinkeliai an d other related compan ies of tran sport sector.
