General Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan has welcomed the EU’s decision on easing restrictions on import of Japanese food products starting from next month, Caspian Energy News reports with reference to nhk.or.jp.

YoshihideSuga told journalists on Wednesday that the European Commission will ease restrictions from November 14.

Since 2011, when the accident at Fukushima atopic power plant occurred, the EU has started demanding radiation check-ups and security certificates for agricultural and sea products delivered from 12 prefectures.

There will be no need for conducting such inspections and requiring certificates for some of these products.

Suga said that EU had made this decision as a result of the September meeting held between the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.

He added that the government would continue making efforts to remove all restrictions imposed after the accident at the atomic power plant.

Austria intends to reject coal-based generation next year, Caspian Energy News reports with reference to the Federal Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Austria.

According to the climate policy of the European Commission (EC), all member states of the European Union (EU) shall reduce carbon dioxide emission down to zero by 2050. The Paris agreement does not imply rejection of fossil fuel and limitation of carbon dioxide emission, but the countries must take measures to reduce emissions, carry out a technological upgrading and adapt to climate change. As an alternative for coal, the European Commission suggests to use renewable sources of energy and natural gas.

Nowadays, 12 countries have officially consented and set the time of step-by-step phase-out of coal combustion. In particular, Austria plans to fully cut the coal-based generation by 2020, France in 2021, Sweden – in 2022, Slovakia in 2023, Great Britain, Italy and Ireland in 2025,  the Netherlands and Finland in 2029,  Denmark and Portugal a year later.

Belgium stopped using coal as a fuel in 2016. The share of coal in fuel mixture of Great Britain totaled just 3% in 2019 (besides, during two weeks in May the country did not use coal at all). Slovakia was the last which joined the project. 

Despite a large list of countries, their yearly coal consumption is relatively minimal: this figure totaled just 25 million tonnes in 2018. But the three main fuel consumers in Europe are Germany, Poland and Turkey. According to BP, altogether they consumed 159.2 million tonnes through 2018.

Only Germany among them has already fixed the time of rejection of coal generation – 2038. Though, the government of the country has not formally approved the plan yet. Poland, the biggest coal consumer in the EU, and Turkey are not ready for taking this step yet.

Secretary of State in the Ministry of Environment Michał Kurtyka noted that Poland consuming coal for production of much of its electricity is seeking guarantees that EU’s funds will be directed towards regions and states with the highest emissions as an access to the capital is the major problem. 

According to estimates of the Polish Economic Institute, at least 10-20 billion Euros per year are needed for an efficiency of the EU Fund for a just transition needs during 2021-2027. For now, the budget committee of the European Commission has signed a proposal for an allocation of just 4.8 billion Euros.

Nevertheless, it will be much harder for such countries to resist the phase-out of coal-based power plants because of the growing pressure from price increase for hydrocarbons and toughening of requirements in regard to emissions.

According to BP’s survey dedicated to global energy consumption in 2018, the European countries consumed 307.1 million tonnes of coal. 

Tashkent will host a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on November 1-2.

As the Minister of Investments and External Trade of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov has said earlier at the 18^th meeting of ministers of SCO countries, issues concerning an implementation of agreements reached at the last meetings of heads of government of the member states of the SCO, extension of the legal framework of the trade-economic cooperation within the organization are planned to be considered at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the use of the transit direction across Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, which is the most efficient and in-demand route in the region, is not on the agenda while in the course of the October visit in Baku President of Afghanistan expressed an intention to cooperate more closely with Azerbaijan and develop infrastructure in this direction. http://www.caspianenergy.net/index.php/ru/news-ru/item/81-my-khotim-druzhit-rynkami-dvizhenie-neprisoedineniya

Total volume of GDP of SCO member countries made $18.5 trillion last year, it makes 22.5 of worldwide indicator. SCO covers 60% of the Eurasian territory with the population of over 3 billion people. Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan are permanent members of the Shanghai organization. Prime Ministers from the countries-observers (Afghanistan, Byelorussia, Iran and Mongolia) are expected to attend the summit. The meeting participants will pay a particular attention to the development and security of transportation highways of Afghanistan. In this regard important is not only Khayraton-Mazari-Sharif railroad but also projects on construction of Mazari-Sharif – Great and Mazari-Sharif – Peshavar enabling to create a new transit corridor with an access to railways of Iran, Pakistan, India, as well as towards Chakhbakhar (Iran) and Gvadar (Pakistan) ports.

Total trade turnover of SCO countries made $125 billion in 2018. Besides, $108 billion fell to the share of the Russia-Chinese trade which for the first time exceeded $100billion. For comparison: export from South Korea to China alone, totaled $162.2 billion in 2018. The reason for a fairly low trade development between China and SCO member states in Central Asia is a weak development of transport communications in the direction of Russia.

At the initiative of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a concept of interaction between the railway administrations was worked out and aimed at improving operational efficiency of existing and at constructing new railroads in the SCO area, as well as at increasing cargo transportation including transit one. The project of construction of Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway gains a particular relevance, which will let the Central Asian states deliver cargoes to Europe, East and South-East Asia, Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea.

In his recent speech delivered at Xiangshan security forum, General Secretary of SCO Vladimir Norov stated that this organization makes a strong contribution into establishment of stability in Afghanistan which keeps remaining the biggest producer and supplier of opiates in the world. Proceeds from their sale are one of the main sources for terrorism financing. The Afgan problems were an issue of major importance at the Bishkek summit of SCO and perhaps a much broader attention will be paid to them in Tashkent, bearing in mind also the work of the “SCO-Afghanistan” contact group.  It is not only about security which is vital for SCO states in the context of events in Afghanistan, but also development of regional transportation routes.

In the first three quarters of 2019 the cargo carriage volume via the Baku international sea trade port grew by 7.1% vs the same period of last year, and totaled 3 million 2.5 thousand tonnes, Caspian Energy News reports with reference to Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC.
According to the data, 85.3% of the total volume of supply (2 million 560.3 thousand tonnes) fell to the share of transit shipments.
Over the last year the volume of transshipment of large vehicles (TIR) increased by 64%, up to 24,790 units. Of this total, 18,642 (75.2%) moved in the direction of Baku-Turkmenbashi, while 6,148 (24.8%) headed in the direction of Baku-Kuryk-Baku.
 The number of containers grew by 43.5%, up to 24,305 units (in TEU equivalent). In particular, the number of containers shipped from China grew by 90% and totaled 2,610 units.
 Overfilling of wagons at the ferry terminal rose by 12%, up to 35,510 units. Of this total, 16,039 (45.2%), 19,429 (54.7%) and 42 (0.1%) vehicles drove in the direction of Baku-Kuryk-Baku, Baku-Turkmenbashi and Baku-Aktau-Baku respectively.
34,425 passengers applied for services of the port within 9 months. 

Meanwhile, the cargo carriage volume via the Baku international sea trade port exceeded 1.03 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2019.
“Transit cargoes accounted for over 861 thousand tonnes or 83.1% of the whole freight traffic. In particular, a considerable increase in transportation of containers has been registered. A total of 7,253 containers (in TEU equivalent) was transported via the Baku port during January-March 2019, which is 55.2% higher than the figure from the same period of last year (4,673 units)”, the report says.
Transshipment of wagons via a new ferry terminal located at Alyat terminal reached 13,788 units (a 12.6% growth vs. the same period of last year) over the period under review. Besides, 6, 446 (46.8%), 7,342 (53.2%) wagons moved in the direction of Baku-Turkmenbashi-Baku.
The report also says that the volume of transshipment of large vehicles (TIR) totaled 6,543 units (a 43.5% growth vs. the same period of last year) during the period of January to March of this year. Thus, 5,180 (79.2%) and 1,363 (20.8%) of them were in the direction of Baku-Kuryk-Baku and Baku-Turkmenbashi-Baku respectively.
According to the report, passenger transportation in both directions totaled 8,813 people, which makes a 17.5% increase vs. the same period of last year.
It is noteworthy that a cargo transshipment potential of the Baku port makes 15 million tonnes within the framework of the first stage, including 100,000 containers a year. Seven out of 12 existing berths serve dry cargoes. Two berths serve ferries and two more berths serve the Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax type vessels. One more berth is used for serving tow-ships and support ships of the port.
Located at the strategic intersection of Europe and Asia and close to large markets such as China, Turkey, Iran and Russia, the Baku port plans to become a leading logistics and trace center of Eurasia.

State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has completed legal proceedings and become a minor member of SOCAR Energoresurs group in Russia.
As Caspian Energy News reports with reference to Fins.az, SOCAR Energoresurs group unites Antipinsky Refinery and three oil fields with 45 million tons of proven oil reserves in Orenburg Oblast, Russia.
The news broke early in June 2019 that SOCAR and Sberbank created a joint venture (JV) to refine oil at Antipinsky Refinery which belongs to the bank.
As a result, SOCAR Energoresurs JV acquired an 80% stake of the refinery.
Antipinsky Refinery JSC is located in the industrial zone of Tumen city, in the south-east near Antipino settlement. A main share of Russian oil (64%) and natural gas (91%) reserves lie in Tumen oblast.

A number of industrial facilities, including “Shebeke” service center in Agdash district telecommunication hub, were commissioned in the course of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Agdash on October 28.

Minister of Transport, Communication and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade and General Director of Aztelekom LLC Suat Pashayev noted that the purpose of creating “Shebeke” service center is to make a one stop shop service which will prevent time loss of citizens and save public expenditures for services.

It was noted that the center would provide postal services, carry out all types of payments, offer phone installation, internet connection, IMEI registration, e-signature services, currency exchange, sale of air tickets and tour packages, and many other types of services.

Opening of Licorice Industry Park took place in Aghdash.

The plant of extracts and syrups, operating at the Licorice Industry Park, produces plant-based biologically active food additives. The first samples of products were shipped to Iran. In future, it is planned to export products to USA, Korea, India, Egypt and European countries. The Licorice Industry Park plans to export 7,500 tonnes of licorice root and 100,000 pieces of licorice syrups under the Made in Azerbaijan brand. 

According to the results of 9 months of this year, our non-oil sector grew by 15% mainly thanks to such enterprises, President noted. 

Besides, commissioned were drinking water supply and sewage systems on October 28.

However, Azersu was ordered to solve the drinking water problem in other five cities as well.

President of the OJSC Gorkhmaz Huseynov informed the head of state that implementation of the project on reconstruction of drinking water and waste water disposal systems of Agdash city started in 2008. Given the prospective development till 2035, the project is designed for improving drinking water supply and waste water disposal services for 47,000 people in the city of Agdash. Apart from this, it is planned to ensure drinking water supply for 13 villages with the population of 20,000 people. In general, 67,000 people will benefit from the project. Underground waters shall be used as a source for water supply to the district center and adjacent villages. Two exploratory wells were initially drilled in the Turyanchay river bed. Testing carried out in the source confirmed the conformity of the water quality to existing standards. Besides, a total of 8 subartesian wells were drilled. Their overall yield makes 240 liters per second.

To date, water and waste water disposal projects have been completed in 30 and 11 cities respectively.

The Head of State commissioned the unit supplying drinking water to the city of Agdash. 

Heads of state and government of 9 states parties to the Non-Aligned Movement meeting, held in Baku on October 25-26, expressed the need for extending economic and trade relations with Azerbaijan, Caspian Energy News reports.

At the meeting held with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashrafi spoke about the program that the government is preparing to extend an international Lapis-Lazuli transport-transit corridor.

Opening of Serkhetabat (Turkmenistan) – Turgundi (Afghanistan) helped to link Afghanistan with the transport-logistics system of Turkmenistan from where an access to the international road network opened.  The railway and highway linked Turgundi with Ashgabat, International Turkmenbashi port in the Caspian Sea. Then, the corridor will stretch out via the Caspian towards Baku, Tbilisi and from there to Ankara and Istanbul.  In 10 months of 2018 alone, the volume of cargo transportation by Kerki-Imamnazar-Akina and Serkhetabat – Turgundi railways doubled compared to the same period of 2017. President of Afghanistan also expressed a will for much closer cooperation with the Ministry of Trade. Infrastructure is one of these potential spheres.

During the meeting held with the Head of State of Azerbaijan, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad noted that Malaysia is not interested in the internal system and ideology of different states because Malaysia is a trading country. Its development depends on trade, so we should always keep up friendship through markets. We see every country as a market for our products. Today we trade with almost 190 countries. With almost all countries we have established certain relations related to business. We even have a number of contacts in order to stay in Azerbaijan. Some of them, of course, are in the oil sector.  During the Cold War, a third force was needed between the two competitors, and it was mainly created by President of Indonesia Sukarno. The Non-Aligned Movement turned into a large international organization after the UN. We are confident that we will manage to develop our countries through trade and commerce, the Malaysian PM emphasized.

Meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Algeria Abdelkader Bensalah also expressed readiness for the development of bilateral economic relations: “Your style of governing the country and the way your development policy is perceived cause a sense of pride not only in Azerbaijan, but also in all developing countries”, he said.

During the meeting held with the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on October 26, shared were opinions on cooperation in agricultural, humanitarian, cultural and other fields. Then, an agreement on cooperation in the cultural field was signed between the government of the Azerbaijan Republic and the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

On October 26 President of Azerbaijan also received President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Arif Alvi, Prime Minister of Libya Fayez Seraj, Chairman of the Sovereign Council of the Republic of Sudan Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan, His Majesty King Mswati III of eSwatini.

XVIII Бакинский саммит, посвященный обеспечению совместного и адекватного ответа на вызовы современного мира, руководствуясь Бандунгскими принципами, прошел 25−26 сентября в Баку, сообщает Caspian  Energy News со ссылкой на ТРЕНД. В нем приняли участие руководство более 60 стран, представители международных организаций, представители стран и организаций, приглашенные в качестве особых гостей. Приехал в Баку и президент Венесуэлы Николас Мадуро, страна которого председательствовала в организации последние три года. Мадуро передал председательство президенту Азербайджанской Республики на 2019−2022 годы. По итогам саммита приняты четыре документа: документ Бакинского саммита, Бакинская декларация, документ о выражении благодарности Азербайджану и по Палестине. В три первых документа будут также включены соответствующие пункты по нагорно-карабахскому конфликту. Отметим, что в Движении Неприсоединения участвуют 120 государств. 17 государств и 10 международных организаций обладают статусом наблюдателя. Азербайджан стал полноправным членом Движения Неприсоединения в 2011 году, которое объединяет государства, не присоединившиеся к каким-либо военно-политическим блокам в период Холодной войны. Оно трансформировалось в один из важных многосторонних механизмов и сегодня является второй политической платформой после ООН, объединяющей в своих рядах наибольшее число государств.

Как отметил в своей речи президент Азербайджана Ильхам Алиев, государственной независимости Азербайджана всего 28 лет. Неделю назад – 18 октября - мы отметили день восстановления нашей независимости. Нагорный Карабах, являющийся исторической землей Азербайджана, и прилегающие к нему семь районов – почти 20 процентов признанных на международном уровне территорий нашей страны уже более двадцати пяти лет находятся под армянской оккупацией. Армения провела политику этнической чистки против азербайджанцев, в итоге более миллиона азербайджанцев оказались в положении беженцев и вынужденных переселенцев. В то время население Азербайджана составляло 8 миллионов человек, и по числу беженцев и вынужденных переселенцев на душу населения наша страна занимала одно из ведущих мест в мире. Армения учинила против азербайджанцев Ходжалинский геноцид. В результате Ходжалинского геноцида 613 невинных людей, в том числе 106 женщин и 63 ребенка, были зверски убиты только за то, что они были азербайджанцами. Более тысячи человек пропали без вести.

Ходжалинский геноцид признан более чем 10 странами мира. В четырех резолюциях, принятых Советом Безопасности ООН в 1993 году, содержится требование о полном и безоговорочном выводе армянских войск с территории Азербайджана. К сожалению, эти резолюции не были выполнены. Порой резолюции Совета Безопасности выполняются в течение нескольких дней, а бывает, что 26 лет остаются на бумаге, как это происходит в отношении конфликта, с которым столкнулся Азербайджан.

Этой политике двойных стандартов должен быть положен конец. Организация исламского сотрудничества, Совет сотрудничества тюркоязычных государств, Европейский парламент, Парламентская Ассамблея Совета Европы, ОБСЕ и другие авторитетные организации приняли резолюции и постановления, требующие восстановления территориальной целостности Азербайджана. Пользуясь случаем, хочу поблагодарить государства-участников за выраженную в принятых до сих пор документах Движения неприсоединения поддержку урегулирования конфликта в соответствии с резолюциями Совета Безопасности ООН в рамках территориальной целостности Азербайджана.

Затронув экономичесские аспекты развития, глава государства сказал, что за последние 15 лет экономика Азербайджана стремительно развивалась, валовой внутренний продукт вырос более чем втрое. В Азербайджан вложено более 270 миллиардов долларов инвестиций, половина из которых – иностранные инвестиции. Внешний долг Азербайджана составляет всего лишь 17 процентов валового внутреннего продукта. По этому показателю мы занимаем 9-е место в мире. Бедность в Азербайджане находится на уровне 5 процентов. Только в этом году минимальная заработная плата и социальные пособия увеличились вдвое, минимальная пенсия – на 70 процентов. 68 тысяч семей, охватывающих более 280 тысяч человек, пользуются адресной социальной помощью, каждая семья получает ежемесячную социальную помощь в эквиваленте примерно 140 долларов США. За последние 15 лет в Азербайджане было построено или отремонтировано более 3200 школ и свыше 640 больниц и медицинских учреждений. Уровень грамотности в Азербайджане близок к 100 процентам. Более трехсот тысяч вынужденных переселенцев обеспечены бесплатными домами и квартирами. Семьям вынужденных переселенцев выплачивается ежемесячное пособие в эквиваленте в среднем 180 долларов США.

Достигнутые Азербайджаном успехи получают одобрение в международном сообществе. В отчете Doing Business Всемирного банка на 2020 год Азербайджан вошел в число 20 самых реформаторских стран. В отчете Давосского всемирного экономического форума Азербайджан по долгосрочной стратегии правительства находится на 10-м, а по уровню устремленности руководства к реформам – на 5-м месте в мировом масштабе.

Азербайджан является космической страной. В настоящее время у нас три спутника - два – телекоммуникационные, а один – по наблюдению за поверхностью Земли. 80 процентов нашего населения являются пользователями интернета.

В Азербайджане обеспечена энергетическая безопасность. И вновь ссылаясь на отчет Давосского всемирного экономического форума, должен сказать, что Азербайджан занимает второе место в мире по коэффициенту доступности электроэнергии. В то же время Азербайджан поставляет энергию в ряд стран. Азербайджан, играющий роль моста между азиатским и европейским континентами, как страна, не имеющая выхода к открытому морю, является инициатором и исполнителем ряда региональных транспортных проектов. Являясь активным участником проектов транспортных коридоров Восток-Запад и Север-Юг, мы в настоящее время работаем над другими важными проектами – Юг-Запад и Север-Запад. Таким образом, Азербайджан как надежная транзитная страна вносит ценный вклад в многостороннее международное сотрудничество.

Изменение климата является глобальной угрозой. Азербайджан поддерживает международные усилия по борьбе с его последствиями. Азербайджан ратифицировал Парижское соглашение, поставил цель сокращения к 2030 году по сравнению с базовым 1990-м годом уровня эмиссий газов, создающих тепловой эффект, на 35 процентов. Для производства электроэнергии в Азербайджане используются только экологически чистый газ и гидроэлектростанции.

Как сообщает Caspian Energy News, об этом в Twitter в понедельник заявил председатель Евросовета Дональд Туск.

Он отметил, что ЕС дает согласие на так называемый трехмесячный "flextention" - то есть Великобритания сможет покинуть блок раньше 31 января, если парламент одобрит соглашение о выходе.

"27 стран-членов ЕС согласились с тем, что они примут запрос Великобритании о гибком продлении Brexit до 31 января 2020 года. Ожидается, что решение будет формализовано по письменной процедуре", - сообщил он.

Как сообщалось, на прошлой неделе Франция помешала послам ЕС принять решение о продолжительности отсрочки. Однако в понедельник стало известно, что Франция готова дать согласие после общения президента Макрона с премьер-министром Джонсоном в выходные.

На прошлой неделе послы ЕС согласились отложить Brexit, однако не определились с датой, в частности, из-за вероятности досрочных выборов в Британии.

Как известно, Палата общин парламента Великобритании сегодня будет голосовать за предложение Джонсона провести досрочные выборы 12 декабря.

Великобритания должна была выйти из ЕС в четверг, но ни Лондон, ни Брюссель не хотят допускать "жесткого" Brexit - выхода страны без утвержденного соглашения.

“This year we have started working over preparation of the first national plan of actions in the field of energy efficiency in Azerbaijan. The work over the plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 whereupon it will be discussed with the relevant government bodies early in 2020”, Secretary General of the European Energy Charter Secretariat Urban Rusnak has stated today (October 24) at the opening ceremony of the international energy charter forum in Baku, Caspian Energy News reports.

The forum, consisting of four sessions, is dedicated to the development of renewable sources of energy and technologies, use and regulation over renewable sources of energy, and promotion of energy efficiency.

Participating in the forum are high ranking officials from 13 countries: Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Austria, China, Greece, Albania, Croatia, Spain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Yemen.