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CENN Daily Digest - October 6, 2004

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  • CENN Daily Digest - October 6, 2004

    CENN - OCTOBER 6, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
    Table of Contents:
    1. The Eurasia Foundation Georgia Office
    2. Metsamor Plant Reactivated After Repairs, Refueling
    3. National Oncology Center in the Limelight of State and International
    Community
    4. China Allocates 100mln. USD for Construction of Rubber Producing
    Plant
    5. Caustic Soda Production to be Set Up in Armenia
    6. ExxonMobil Fails to Find Oil in the Caspian Shelf



    1. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT -- THE EURASIA FOUNDATION GEORGIA OFFICE

    Vacancy Announcement

    Title: PMDI Program Coordinator

    Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Program Officer is
    responsible for developing and managing the Pipeline Monitoring and
    Dialogue Initiative (PMDI). PDMI is a new Initiative implemented by
    Eurasia Foundation in cooperation with BP, UNDP, IFC for building
    capacity of Georgian NGO's in Monitoring Methods for Pipeline
    Construction & Operations. PDMI supports a series of activities aimed
    at developing monitoring skills amongst NGOs and their members,
    providing an effective channel for increased public dialogue related to
    pipeline-oriented issues.

    The Program coordinator will be responsible for overall management and
    coordination of the PDMI initiative, including:

    a) Coordinating and facilitating the meetings of NGO representatives
    involved in the project.
    b) Organizing activities the NGO working groups on social,
    environmental, cultural heritage, and labor rights issues;
    c) Developing the training curricula for the project participants;
    d) Organizing trainings for the project participants;
    e) Organizing field trips and collection of relevant information in
    coordination with other partners;
    f) Facilitating the report writing process, compiling and submission of
    the final reports
    g) Representing the foundation on issues of the project in relations
    with partners, donors, and media.

    Requirements:

    § An advanced university degree (Master's degree or beyond) in public
    policy, journalism, law or environmental sciences.
    § At least three years experience working in Georgian or international
    NGO's.
    § Knowledge of the history and trends in civil society development in
    Georgia.
    § Excellent written and spoken Georgian, English, and Russian.
    § Computer literacy, particularly Microsoft office programs.
    § Demonstrated analytical, written, and communication skills.
    § Excellent ability to work with others to achieve results; coaching,
    developing teams.

    Applicants should submit in English (1) a curriculum vitae (CV) and (2)
    a detailed cover letter explaining their qualifications for the
    position.

    Applications should be submitted to the Eurasia Foundation office, or by
    e-mail to [email protected].

    3, Kavsadze Street, Tbilisi, Georgia 0179
    Tel./Fax: (995 32) 22 32 64
    The deadline for application submission is October 14, 2004
    E-mail: [email protected]


    2. METSAMOR PLANT REACTIVATED AFTER REPAIRS, REFUELING

    Source: RFE/RL

    The nuclear power station at Metsamor, which meets nearly 40 percent of
    Armenia's energy needs, was reactivated on Monday more than two months
    after its sole reactor was stopped for refueling and regular capital
    repairs. The plant's director, Gagik Markosian, told RFE/RL that it
    would resume supplies to the national power grid on Tuesday.

    Mr. Markosian said the capital repairs have further improved the safety
    of Metsamor's Soviet-designed reactor built in 1979. He said the work,
    carried out once in four years, has involved the installation of new
    equipment provided by the United States and the European Union,
    estimating their cost at `millions of dollars.'

    According to Gagik Markosian, the two-month period has also been used
    for a close inspection of the reactor core conducted by specialists from
    Skoda, a Czech engineering firm chosen in an international tender. They
    found it in good condition, he added.

    The light-water reactor was brought to a halt on July 30 shortly after
    the delivery of a new batch of Russian nuclear worth $12 million. It
    replaced approximately one third of Metsamor's previously loaded fuel
    and should keep the facility operational for at least one year.

    Mr. Metsamor was placed under the financial management of Russia's RAO
    Unified Energy Systems utility last year in payment for its $40 million
    outstanding debts to Russian fuel suppliers.

    The plant resumed power generation despite last month's closure of
    Russia's border with Georgia that disrupted the delivery of a special
    lubricant used in the process. Prime Minister Andranik Markarian warned
    as recently as Wednesday that this could delay the planned reactivation.

    Mr. Markosian revealed, however, that the Metsamor management found
    another Russian supplier and imported the substance by air.

    The U.S. and the EU continue to provide substantial financial and
    technical assistance to the plant despite their long-standing calls for
    its closure on safety grounds. The Armenian government says it is safe
    enough to operate for another decade.


    3. NATIONAL ONCOLOGY CENTER IN THE LIMELIGHT OF STATE AND INTERNATIONAL
    COMMUNITY

    Source: Armenpress, September 30, 2004

    Funded by US State Department, Community and Humanitarian Assistance
    Project Armenian Office of Counterpart International have provided
    medical equipment and medicine in the amount of 320,000 USD to Armenian
    National Oncology Center. This is a donation of US National Oncology
    Coalition.

    The center hosted representatives of the organization and the project
    today. Counterpart International has committed itself to continue
    dispatch of medical equipment to the center with the total cost of
    assistance for the running year exceeding 1mln USD. Since 2001, the
    organization has supplied the center with medical items of about 12 mln
    USD through its Community and Humanitarian Assistance Project.

    According to Sergei Khomchenko, a representative of the organization and
    the project, Counterpart international assists the most needy patients.
    He argued that prevention of oncology illnesses is far easier than their
    treatment. He said that smoking is widespread in Armenia that is one of
    the major causes of the illness.

    According to Hairapet Galstian, National Oncology Center Head, thanks to
    Counterpart International the center is equipped with modern technology.
    He said that they are particularly in need of diagnoses equipment that
    cost 1mln USD and are not affordable neither for the state nor the
    center.

    The center head said that government also earmarks funds for the
    operation of the center.

    US national oncology coalition supports medical program in some 10
    countries throughout the world.


    4. CHINA ALLOCATES 100MLN. USD FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RUBBER-PRODUCING
    PLANT

    Source: Arminfo, October 4, 2004

    China has allocated 100mln. USD for the construction of a plant to
    produce chloroprene rubber by Armenian technology, stated Albert
    Sukiasyan the Armenian participant in the project, Director of the
    "Nairit 2".

    According to him, the construction of a plant with a designed capacity
    of 30,000 tons of rubber a year in the province of Shaahsi was started a
    year ago. The Armenian share in the authorized capital of the
    "Shaansi-Nairit" CJSC is 40%, and that of China 60%. Sukiasyan pointed
    out that the State Bank of China lent a credit, and the Armenian side is
    to contribute with technologies and equipment. Sukiasyan pointed out
    that a rubber-producing plan is already operating in Shaansi, but it was
    closed for environmental reasons. The old plant is to be shut down after
    the new one is put into operation, 50km. away from the city. Sukiasyan
    reported that China's yearly demand for rubber is 100,000 tons.

    An agreement on the establishment of a JV was signed on October 2001
    between the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development and the
    Shaansi group of joint-stock companies of synthetic rubbers.


    5. CAUSTIC SODA PRODUCTION TO BE SET UP IN ARMENIA

    Source: Arminfo, October 4, 2004

    A number of foreign companies are showing interest in a 30mln. USD
    project of setting up the production of pure solid caustic soda in
    Armenia initiated by the "Nairit-2" CJSC, stated Karen Karapetyan, Head
    of the Information Department, Armenian Development Agency (AAA).

    According to him, the project was submitted to the Eurasian Economic
    Union (EAEU) in Moscow on September 20, 2004. US companies showed the
    greatest interest in the project. Karapetyan pointed out that
    investments are to be directed to the purchase of up-to-date equipment.
    Production is expected to be organized at the "Nairit 2" CJSC. The
    project envisages the production of 50 to 100 thousand tons of caustic
    soda a year. Karapetyan reported that the principal raw material in the
    production of caustic soda is table salt. Salt solution is leached from
    under the ground, and the formed cavities are expected to be used for
    storing fuel and oil products. The storage will allow oil-processing
    enterprises to be established in Armenia. Karapetyan said that the
    Rustavi-based "Azot" plant is a large consumer of caustic soda in the
    region.


    6. EXXONMOBIL FAILS TO FIND OIL IN THE CASPIAN SHELF

    Source: CBN, October 6, 2004

    Major U.S. oil company, ExxonMobil, has lost hope for finding a large
    oil deposit with its Azeri flagship offshore, after its local venture
    partner reported on Wednesday that the first ultra-deep well yielded
    only gas. The drilling at the Zafar-Mashal offshore field had been
    expected to produce a considerable clue as to whether the Caspian
    country's shelf contained more significant reserves, or if its overall
    potential had been overestimated.

    --
    *******************************************
    CENN INFO
    Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

    Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
    Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
    E-mail: [email protected]
    URL: www.cenn.org
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