As it happens
we have the first of two reports in the programme tonight from Kazakhstan. Russia is expected to supply a third of all Europe's gas in just three years time and many european countries are already totally dependent on Russian supplies, so suspicions that Russia is now playing power politics with energy supplies have increased western anxieties over energy security. Add to that instability in the middle raising doubts over future oil supplies and the west has begun casting around for alternative supplies. The former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan in central asia has enormous reserves of oil and gas and is keen to exploit them, but will it be anymore secure. Rob Broomby will have more details for you at 5. Here are some of his pics and words relevant to tonight:
"The helicopter flight to Island D, 70 km off the Caspian coast requires the wearing of a full survival suit, and yes it really is as tight as it looks! Its all designed to increase the chances of survival in the freezing winter months if the helicopter were forced to ditch, luckily I was visiting in spring."
"Ian Anderson, the Offshore Installation Manager for Agip KCO's Island D. Compared to an average North Sea Oil Reservoir Kashagan is described as "massive" , he says standards are higher than in the North Sea."
"Drilling on Island D. The drill pipes themselves extend up to 5km below the sea bed and bend in a remarkable S shape to avoid geological faults. The entire rig sits on an artificial Island. The waters are shallow but in winter temperatures sink to minus 40 and two enormous ice breakers maintain evacuation routes to allow for escape in the event of a gas leak." 
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Golly! Those photos. Love the way we're getting more and more radio with pictures.
So I was right - the 'Stan' thread was a hint...
I've got some pix of me in a similarly fetching suit on my way to St Kilda some years ago
Eddie, the penultimate line of your first paragraph ought to have concluded with a question mark.
Please forgive my pedantry, but I'm having a difficult day. You seemed the best figure at whom to direct my frustrations.
I am, incidentally, already looking forward to this report.
So, am I understanding this right? The Italians are involved in the drilling?
Look forward to that report tonight. Will Rob be speaking in a super-squeaky voice due to the restrictions of the tight suit????
"many european countries are already totally dependent on Russian supplies, so suspicions that Russia is now playing power politics with energy supplies "
Why shouldn't they? Do Europeans think that they have an inalienable right to other people's property without paying whatever the market will bear? The days when they could and did just march into a country and steal whatever they wanted or needed are long over? The days when they were subsidized by US taxpayers so that they wouldn't become enslaved in the Soviet empire are also over. The real question is what do Europeans have to sell to the outside world that people want and are willing to pay for so that they can afford to buy those Russian supplies? Their expensive safety nets won't save them now. So America is just about making money? Well at least it won't freeze to death for lack of being able to buy fuel.
Well if it takes old rival politics to prompt the West to search for alternative sources of fuel, then I'm not totally against it, I must admit.
Lovely pictures though - brings back memories of my rigging-based family.
Radio with pictures :-)
Don't go too far though else we will have witchiewoman on our back.
witchie said of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Breakfast re: the demise of Newsreaders :-
"otherwise it all merges into one endless presenterthon (eg ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Breakfast - although that is shockingly awful it shouldn't be mentioned on such hallowed company).
A bit like this blog then ? and endless presentation with pictures.
Personally I enjoy the relief of time with Dermot in the morning after often waking up with JH shouting in my ear!
Nice photo's by the way !
Well if it takes old rival politics to prompt the West to search for alternative sources of fuel, then I'm not totally against it, I must admit.
Lovely pictures though - brings back memories of my rigging-based family.
And how are you marking International Secretaries Day on the programme tonight? By interviewing a secretary from Kazakhstan?
Although I work for a secretarial portal, we struggle most years to find a new angle. This may just be it.
Mark (5),
"The days when they could and did just march into a country and steal whatever they wanted or needed are long over?"
Why didn't somebody tell Shrub & al Poodle and save us all a lot of bother?
xx
ed
Love the suit. Not sure that yellow is this summers 'in' colour though. And that high waist is *so* last year. And the orange and yellow immersion suits really clash with the blue of that sky.
BigSis;
How can you tell the Italians are involved? Is it the cut of the trouser legs on the immersion suit? The narrow lapels? Or did you see a tub of Luigi's vanilla ice cream lurking in one of the shots?
Si.
Is there any chance Rob can take some photos of the surroundings as well, so we can get a feel for what Kazahkstan looks like? Ta!
FFred
I believe the Kazakhstan fields were one of the reason to 'stabilize' Pipelinistan. Condie would know, but she ain't saying.
xx
ed
Great Photos
OK, so own up! who sent out the blank Newsletter?
Ah Jonnie - I didn't mean it like that! Pictures with content I'm all for! Unfortuantely I don't have access to News 24 but I'm guessing they do that pretty well! And I meant presenter-thon as in it all seems to be about identity rather than substance....not explaining myself well but didn't want to be misconstrued, have a feeling I've made it worse!
And I love the pics - it adds an extra dimension!
Oh well, back to the hammock.
Re:- witchiewoman,
I know how you meant it - ;-)
Jonnie Personally I enjoy the relief of time with Dermot in the morning after often waking up with JH shouting in my ear!
You'd be disapppointed if there was no "oo-er" for that one! :-)
Simon: AGIP is the state owned Italian oil company. That's the connection.
BigSis;
Oh, how disappointing. I wondered if the clothing had been designed by someone in Milan.
Si.
Johnnie - you tease! (but thanks for letting me know....was a little worried!) :)
I think it necessary to say that there is a bit of a game going in a lot of things we do and say.
I think the term, was it, the 'great game', does sound bad for smaller players, it can, or does, carry with it, especially as the large powers are mnetioned, a very, no doubt threatening, or worrying tone, for any smaller less powerful countries.
I write from Great Britain, and I think there is a cautionary point here, all the large powers, India..?.., the 'Russian Bear', 'Chinese Dragon, the West and the USA, should make a point from this moment on to demonstrate in actions and words that will not let smaller countries be marginalised or unfairly exploited.
I know this will invite..er..comment, but it is not really for the attention of bloggers, it is for the attention of the rulers and governments of these countries.
Now Aliesa, contributing to this, with, I take it a view from Kazakhstan, uses these colourful expressions for Russia and China, I guess those countries possibly accept these playful names and do not feel that, as people they are actually being compared to animals!
The expresson the needy-west. I don't feel this expression is exactly balanced. The West needs oil and gas, so do the other countries mentioned, so do all countries small and large.
Kazakhstan and oil producing countries, do we say they need the oil and gas revenue, probably yes.
However if we decribe them as being needy, it has a different tone about it.
So if the expression is a slight towaerds the West, it is noticed.
I think it necessary to say that there is a bit of a game going in a lot of things we do and say.
I think the term, was it, the 'great game', does sound bad for smaller players, it can, or does, carry with it, especially as the large powers are mnetioned, a very, no doubt threatening, or worrying tone, for any smaller less powerful countries.
I write from Great Britain, and I think there is a cautionary point here, all the large powers, India..?.., the 'Russian Bear', 'Chinese Dragon, the West and the USA, should make a point from this moment on to demonstrate in actions and words that will not let smaller countries be marginalised or unfairly exploited.
I know this will invite..er..comment, but it is not really for the attention of bloggers, it is for the attention of the rulers and governments of these countries.
Now Aliesa, contributing to this, with, I take it a view from Kazakhstan, uses these colourful expressions for Russia and China, I guess those countries possibly accept these playful names and do not feel that, as people they are actually being compared to animals!
The expresson the needy-west. I don't feel this expression is exactly balanced. The West needs oil and gas, so do the other countries mentioned, so do all countries small and large.
Kazakhstan and oil producing countries, do we say they need the oil and gas revenue, probably yes.
However if we decribe them as being needy, it has a different tone about it.
So if the expression is a slight towaerds the West, it is noticed.