0 Fukushima Regulators Allow Radioactive Dumping in Tokyo Bay
Is the Japanese government and the IAEA protecting the nuclear industry and not the people of Japan by claiming that Fukushima is stable when it is not? Fairewinds' chief engineer
Alarming news exposing corruption and lies at the highest levels putting peoples lives at risk.
Arnie Gundersen outlines major inconsistencies and double-speak by the IAEA, Japanese Government, and TEPCO claiming that the Fukushima accident is over. Dynamic versus static equilibrium, escalated dose exposures to the Japanese children and nuclear workers, and the blending of radioactive materials with non-contaminated material and spreading this contaminated ash throughout Japan are only a small part of this ongoing nuclear tragedy.
0 Radical approach to "self-healing" materials
Japanese chemists have made a covalently cross-linked gel that can repair itself simply by bringing the broken surface together. The new material can heal itself even after damaged surfaces have been kept apart for as long as five days.
Inspired by our bodies' ability to heal, self-healing materials have the ability to repair themselves when they are damaged. That's important, for example, in medical devices. Smart materials that do this have traditionally been made in two ways, either using supramolecular chemistry like host-guest interactions, which are fast acting but sensitive to water, or covalent bonds that are tolerant to water and many functional groups, but often require energy to reform bonds.
The gel is continually releasing free radicals that allow the material to repair damage without additional energy © Angew. Chem., Int. Ed |
Hideyuki Otsuka's team at of Kyushu University came up with a new solution using a cross-linking unit - diarylbibenzofuranone, DABBF - that can split to form a pair of radicals. 'Our system achieved "autonomous" self-healing and does not require any stimulation,' he says.
The neat trick is that the DABBF units are in equilibrium, constantly breaking into arylbenzofuranone radicals and then reforming. This means that once damaged, the material just has to be put back in contact with itself to heal. As the DABBF units break and reform, the two surfaces will slowly bind back together. After 24 hours, the gel is as strong as it was before it was damaged.
Stephen Craig, who works on self-healing materials at Duke University, US, agrees that the underlying radical chemistry used here 'has some potential practical advantages'. But, he adds that 'the ultimate success of any system will increasingly be judged by the applications that it enables, and it will be interesting to see what the authors have in mind'.
Otsuka says he sees the system being used in fields such as 'space materials and artificial organs that have difficulty repairing'. At the moment the gel is not biocompatible because of the organic solvent used but Otsuka says he hopes that he can make the gel without these solvents in the future. First, he has to show that the DABBF units are not themselves toxic, particularly because radical species are often toxic.
'Preliminary results revealed that DABBF units do not show special toxicity,' he says. 'We hope we can report on this topic after careful investigation in the near future.'
Laura Howes
0 Seattle Sues Attorney That Is Suing To Get Police Dashcam Videos
This is going to be one to watch, directly linked to the following:
Justice Department Releases Investigative Findings on the Seattle Police Department
Based on a randomized, stratified and statistically valid sample of SPD’s use of force reports from Jan. 1, 2009, to April 4, 2011, factual findings include:
When SPD officers use force, they do so in an unconstitutional manner nearly 20 percent of the time;
- SPD officers too quickly resort to the use of impact weapons, such as batons and flashlights. When SPD officers use batons, 57 percent of the time it is either unnecessary or excessive;
- SPD officers escalate situations, and use unnecessary or excessive force, when arresting individuals for minor offenses.This trend is pronounced in encounters with persons with mental illnesses or those under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is problematic because SPD estimates that 70 percent of use of force encounters involve these populations.
0 Israel Prepares for "Dirty Bomb" Drill
Israeli defense officials are preparing for a January drill on the response to a radiological "dirty bomb" attack against a backdrop of regional instability and fears about Iran's nuclear development, the Jerusalem Post reported on Friday (dec 2011)
The "Dark Cloud" simulation would be the Israeli civil defense force's first exercise that deals with the fallout of a radiological attack. The exercise is being directed by ex-Israeli air force Material Command chief Brig. Gen. Zev Snir, who advises the Israeli defense minister on WMD threats.
Jerusalem has long feared a nuclear attack by extremists. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has said on multiple occasions he is more concerned that the nation's enemies could smuggle an improvised radioactive weapon into the country via the Port of Haifa than of Iran launching a nuclear-tipped long-range missile at Israel.
A number of military and defense personnel from other countries are set to observe the drill in northern Israel."Israel is one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to preparing for such attacks. But we have to test ourselves and ensure that the responses we have in place are applicable and appropriate for the wide variety of threats we face," Snir said.
Compared to an attack with a weaponized pathogen, a dirty bomb strike on Tel Aviv is expected to result in a relatively small number of casualties.
"The effect is mostly psychological. A small dirty bomb that goes off in Israel, even if just a few people are killed, could paralyze the country," a high-ranking defense official said.
An improvised radiological device would use conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material. Such a weapon could be smuggled into Israel through its port system, airports or borders.
Though the country has developed rigorous security protocols for checking sea and air cargo, the chance remains that a compact radioactive device could be secreted away amid hundreds of shipping crates on a ship. Alternatively, terrorists could detonate a dirty bomb attached to a drone aircraft. The militant organization Hezbollah has used unmanned aerial devices before, according to the Post.
Lastly, extremists could carry a radiological device into Israel by land. Some 2,500 migrants from North Africa already illegally cross the country's borders each month so it is not hard to envision a radiological weapon being smuggled in as well.
While Jerusalem's widely assumed nuclear arsenal serves as a strong protection against a strategic strike by another nation, it is less clear that terrorists would feel similarly deterred, particularly if there is the chance they could escape attribution.
"If the source of a terrorist nuclear attack against Israel is unknown, or if it is known to originate with al-Qaeda or Iran, Israel should make it clear that its response will be unlimited and include not just major population centers but all sites of value, including those of major symbolic importance for the Muslim world," Harvard University senior fellow Chuck Freilich said.
Jerusalem has yet to issue such a clearly worded threat (Yaakov Katz, Jerusalem Post, Dec. 9).
0 Rai, Future bloc call for weapons-free country.
BEIRUT: Politicians and religious leaders took to the Christmas stage to tout their messages with Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai reiterating his call for a weapons-free Lebanon.At a Sunday Mass in Bkirki, Rai urged the government to work toward a Lebanon where all weapons are under the control of the Lebanese government.
“It is the duty of the state alone, entrusted with the security of its citizens and peace in the country, to collect weapons and place them under the sole control of legitimate Lebanese forces so that Beirut and all of Lebanon can become weapons-free,” Rai said.
“[The state] has to bring the tasks of defense and security under the sole authority of political power and bolster confidence in its armed forces,” Rai continued.
The patriarch also called on the government to grant amnesty for Lebanese who fled to Israel in 2000 following the Israeli army’s withdrawal from the south – Parliament passed an urgent draft law in November allowing those who fled to return.
Rai’s comments about weapons come days after Beirut MPs from the March 14 coalition began campaigning for an arms-free capital after a spate of security incidents in Beirut, including a gunfight in Zeidanieh and clashes, denied by the Lebanese Army, reported in Burj Abi Haidar.
Future Movement MPs began calling last year for a “de-militarized” Beirut following armed clashes between Hezbollah and the Association of the Islamic Charitable Projects that left three people dead in Burj Abi Haidar.
The National News Agency reported that in a Christmas meeting with Rai, President Michel Sleiman spoke about the need to rid the country of illegitimate arms, and Future Movement MP Ahmad Fatfat said in a Sunday radio interview that Rai’s statements on weapons are in keeping with Sleiman’s sentiments.
“We’ve entered an important path, perhaps similar to that of bishops’ call in 2000 for Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon,” Fatfat said. “Rai’s statements express a Lebanese consensus that has been emerging gradually about the importance that the Lebanese state is the only party that controls the country’s security,” he added.
Fatfat said that Rai’s comments present a challenge to Hezbollah, asking whether “it intends to review the issue of withdrawing arms and meet the Lebanese halfway.”
Speaking about the Cabinet’s future, Fatfat said it is “not in the hands of its prime minister, but is connected to the decision that established it [the Cabinet], [that is] Syria and Hezbollah ... As long as these two have an interest in the Cabinet remaining, it will continue, regardless of the difficulties it faces domestically,” he continued. Fatfat said the Cabinet “does not have any Lebanese future” and has not provided “anything serious to the Lebanese,” noting that the wage increase proposal could still be rejected by the Shura Council.
In a Sunday statement, Hezbollah wished Christians well and said that it hoped “that our country and region are filled with unity, cooperation and [will] to overcome the series of crises facing the world and especially the region.” The statement said all religions should be united against “unjust Israeli occupation backed by arrogant powers, especially the United States of America.”
At a Christmas Mass in Downtown Beirut, Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elias Audi generally avoided politics but said “let each of us work according to his conscience and duty, instead of launching theories and slogans without acting upon them and expecting others to implement them.”
Grand Mufti Mohammad Rashid Qabbani Monday called both Rai and the Maronite Church’s former patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, to extend his Christmas greetings, the NNA reported.
 | |
|
“[The state] has to bring the tasks of defense and security under the sole authority of political power and bolster confidence in its armed forces,” Rai continued.
The patriarch also called on the government to grant amnesty for Lebanese who fled to Israel in 2000 following the Israeli army’s withdrawal from the south – Parliament passed an urgent draft law in November allowing those who fled to return.
Rai’s comments about weapons come days after Beirut MPs from the March 14 coalition began campaigning for an arms-free capital after a spate of security incidents in Beirut, including a gunfight in Zeidanieh and clashes, denied by the Lebanese Army, reported in Burj Abi Haidar.
Future Movement MPs began calling last year for a “de-militarized” Beirut following armed clashes between Hezbollah and the Association of the Islamic Charitable Projects that left three people dead in Burj Abi Haidar.
The National News Agency reported that in a Christmas meeting with Rai, President Michel Sleiman spoke about the need to rid the country of illegitimate arms, and Future Movement MP Ahmad Fatfat said in a Sunday radio interview that Rai’s statements on weapons are in keeping with Sleiman’s sentiments.
“We’ve entered an important path, perhaps similar to that of bishops’ call in 2000 for Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon,” Fatfat said. “Rai’s statements express a Lebanese consensus that has been emerging gradually about the importance that the Lebanese state is the only party that controls the country’s security,” he added.
Fatfat said that Rai’s comments present a challenge to Hezbollah, asking whether “it intends to review the issue of withdrawing arms and meet the Lebanese halfway.”
Speaking about the Cabinet’s future, Fatfat said it is “not in the hands of its prime minister, but is connected to the decision that established it [the Cabinet], [that is] Syria and Hezbollah ... As long as these two have an interest in the Cabinet remaining, it will continue, regardless of the difficulties it faces domestically,” he continued. Fatfat said the Cabinet “does not have any Lebanese future” and has not provided “anything serious to the Lebanese,” noting that the wage increase proposal could still be rejected by the Shura Council.
In a Sunday statement, Hezbollah wished Christians well and said that it hoped “that our country and region are filled with unity, cooperation and [will] to overcome the series of crises facing the world and especially the region.” The statement said all religions should be united against “unjust Israeli occupation backed by arrogant powers, especially the United States of America.”
At a Christmas Mass in Downtown Beirut, Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elias Audi generally avoided politics but said “let each of us work according to his conscience and duty, instead of launching theories and slogans without acting upon them and expecting others to implement them.”
Grand Mufti Mohammad Rashid Qabbani Monday called both Rai and the Maronite Church’s former patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, to extend his Christmas greetings, the NNA reported.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Dec-27/158011-rai-future-bloc-call-for-weapons-free-country.ashx#ixzz1iPdqTYwD
0 Exposed: The Military’s Freakiest ‘Non-Lethal’ Weapon Ideas
Source: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/01/non-lethal-weapons/
Of course, the directorate can’t spend all its time dreaming up torturous new toys. They’ve still gotta fix the busted up old ones.
Tasers that elicit excruciating spasms in one person at a time? Foam pellets that send an entire crowd fleeing in agony? Pfft. So 2011. Where non-lethal weapons are concerned, the future’s all about sonic microwaves that can make swimmers puke mid-stroke, and aircraft with laser beams that can redirect an entire enemy plane mid-flight.
Or, at least, those are the deepest, darkest wishes of the Pentagon agency responsible for non-lethal weapons.
The military’s Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate’s “Non-Lethal Weapons Reference Book,” leaked online last week by PublicIntelligence.org, is a terrifying treasure trove that describes dozens of ways — some already in-use, others in development or still mere fantasy — for military and law enforcement officials to make you wish they were using the real bullets.
A total of 14 weapons, according to the reference book, are currently being fielded. Some of ‘em, you’ve heard of. Good old tasers, which the guide helpfully reminds us “can penetrate 2 inches of clothing” in order to “totally disable an individual,” and guns that shoot 600 rubber pellets filled with pepper spray to keep rowdy crowds — already used by law enforcement officials, sometimes with very lethal results — subdued.
Most of the guide, however, offers a sneak peak at the military’s dream non-lethal arms cache.
Dozens of the devices are currently in development. There’s an “Impulse Swimmer Gun” that uses “pulsed sound waves” to cause “auditory impairment and/or nausea” among scuba divers engaged in “unauthorized underwater activities”; A system that relies on “high-power microwaves” to block oncoming cars and any (oops) “unintended targets within the target area”; A vehicle-mounted tube launcher that’ll unleash “ocular and auditory impairment” combined with “thermal heating” to utterly devastate a horde of wrongdoers.
And then there are the fantasy projects. The agency want a new and improved taser that can “substantially increase the duration of disabling effects.” They’re also after a high-powered microwave system that can be hooked up to a drone or a ship, and then used to trigger “electrical system malfunction” on enemy boats. Danger Room’s personal favorite, though, is a system of “pulsed laser[s]” on the tip of an airplane, used to “externally control the steering forces” of a foe’s aircraft, in order to “divert [it] from restricted area.”
Of course, the directorate can’t spend all its time dreaming up torturous new toys. They’ve still gotta fix the busted up old ones.Take their oft-derided “Active Denial System,” (ADS) a pain beam likened by one Pentagon official to “an intolerable heating sensation…like opening up an oven door.”
The system cost a whopping $55 million to develop before being canceled in 2008, only to be hustled into Afghanistan two years later despite myriad technical problems that made the ADS “logistic[ally] too tough to bring to a warzone.”
Now, the directorate is after a next-gen model. Among their conceptual projects is an ADS that’d actually work, thanks to “drastically reduce[d] size, weight, cost…and ‘shoot-on-the-move’ capabilities.” But why stop there? The directorate also wants an aerial ADS, to beam out burning sensations from above.
There’s no question that folks at JNLWD have some freaky fantasies on the brain. But it’s unclear just how many of the systems being created or dreamed up will ever make it to widespread use.
After all, as a GAO report noted in 2008, the agency has yet to successfully, you know, “develop any new weapons.” Good thing, considering they’ve also failed to figure out what constitutes an “acceptable risk” for human targets of the non-lethal arms.
0 French Nuclear Upgrade to Cost 'Several Billion Euros'
France's nuclear safety watchdog said Tuesday that Electricité de France SA will have to spend several billion euros to upgrade the country's nuclear reactors to ensure they can withstand a serious natural disaster.
In its post-Fukushima review of French nuclear safety, the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire concluded that no plants needed to be immediately shut down, but steps should be taken as "soon as possible" to improve safety at the country's 58 reactors, said the 500-page report.
The report marks the latest sign of how the post-Fukushima environment is posing new challenges for nuclear power everywhere, including France, which garners an exceptionally high 75% of its power from nuclear energy. The ASN report comes amid a major emerging debate on nuclear power in the 2012 French presidential election.
André Claude Lacoste, the head of the ASN, said he envisions an upgrade that would likely cost "several billion euros," adding that "there will be a before and after Fukushima."
The ASN wants power giant EDF, which operates France's nuclear plants, to outline by June 30 a series of measures to reinforce "core" safety at its reactors. EDF must build diesel pumps in special bunkers to ensure all its reactors can be cooled even in the event of a massive natural disaster, the report said.
Other measures to be put in place include the creation of a rapid-response team that could be rushed to the site of any disaster and measures to reinforce the security of the pools which house spent nuclear fuel rods.
"This will take time and money," Mr. Lacoste said. "We are not asking the operator to make these investments. We are telling them to."
Mr. Lacoste said that it was difficult to imagine that the cost of this upgrade won't affect the price of generating nuclear power in France. France has lower retail electricity prices than many neighbors in Europe, but it isn't clear how the changes would affect retail prices, which are regulated in France. EDF couldn't be reached for immediate comment Tuesday.
French energy minister Eric Besson on Tuesday plans to meet with EDF and other French nuclear groups on June 9 to discuss the recommendations in the report, Mr. Besson's office said.
The aim of the ASN recommendations is to ensure that in the event of natural disaster, a reactor is supplied with water to keep it cool, that staff can continue to work and that toxic spills can be contained.
The ASN's conclusions will also be presented to the European Commission, along with the conclusions from other safety "stress tests" from across Europe. The Commission will then analyze and compare these conclusions.
The report comes as the France's political consensus on nuclear power begins to crack ahead of the 2012 Presidential elections. Recently France's Green and Socialist party formed a tentative pact and said that if they came to power, they would cut the country's share of nuclear power in the energy mix from 75% to 50% by 2025 through the gradual closure of 24 reactors.
The two political parties also said they would shut down France's oldest nuclear plant immediately, if socialist candidate François Hollande is elected president in May. The proposals have been greeted with outrage by France's ruling UMP party, who say that nuclear energy is critical for the country's economy and independence from foreign fossil fuels.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has continued to champion nuclear power, even as neighboring countries like Germany, Switzerland and Belgium retreat.
Source:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203550304577138392366526910.html
Source:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203550304577138392366526910.html
0 An Open Letter to Ron Paul from Michael Rivero
An Open Letter to Ron Paul from Michael Rivero
from whatreallyhappened.com
It is one thing to speak of principles and quite another to fight for them.
Dr. Paul
I am but one of the millions of Americans who supported you in 2008 and support you now. We have donated to you, volunteered for you, promoted you, defended you, and in a very real way fought for you. Now may be the time for you to return the favor.All across Iowa, alarming indicators are rising that those who wish to continue the nation down the path of fascism are preparing to steal the Iowa Caucus from you. We all know you are a gentleman and still believe in the ultimate fairness of our nation, but in this one regard I fear you are being dangerously naive. As the HBO Documentary "Hacking Democracy" illustrates, election fraud, always a reality in the past, is now epidemic across the nation. Iowa has a prior history of vote fraud shenanigans, as shown in 1996 when vote fraud shaved 13% from Pat Buchanan's totals all across the state, tipping the victory to Bob Dole.
As I am fond of telling my radio audience, this election is not a gentlemanly contest. It is a bare-knuckles, knock-down, spit-teeth-in-the-gutter fight for the future of this nation, with a nuclear world war hanging in the balance. Your opponents espouse that God wants this nuclear war waged on the Arab world and the problem with politicians listening to those voices in their head is that they truly believe that lying, cheating, stealing, even assassination is no sin in the furtherance of what they claim is a divine agenda.
Of course, we all hope that the voter turnout for you is so great that cheating will be impossible, and that we are headed for yet another "Dewey Defeats Truman" moment in history. But your sudden decline in the public media polls, with number arrived at through fraudulent means signals an attempt to "pre-sell" your defeat to the more gullible segments of the public. Rumors coming from Chicago, known for political skullduggery, that the Iowa votes will be counted in Illinois rather than Iowa, should send a clear warning signal that fraud is afoot.
Dr. Paul, We The People stand with you. We ask that you stand with us, and if indeed, as appears to be the case, Iowa is stolen from you, then it is time to take off the gloves and fight for those principles which have attracted so much support for you. Because the vote stealers are stealing more than just a victory from you, they are stealing our nation from all of the people. They are stealing a life of peace from our children. They are stealing prosperity from us all. They plan an eternity of war for the world and if they succeed, none of us will ever live to see a time of peace again.
If we do not choose to fight against these people now, we will soon have no choice but to fight for them from now on.
Far more than just your political ambitions are at risk here. If the election is allowed to be stolen, then all we have to look forward to is nuclear war without and violent revolution within.
If Iowa is stolen from you, we need you to be the leader we all know that you are and demand a recount by hand of all ballots.
Michael Rivero
0 Tapi gas pipeline project: Afghanistan blocks progress
Afghanistan has reportedly blocked further progress on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline project, due to differences on pricing of gas
This information is contained in the Asian Development Bank(ADB) Technical Assistance (TA) 7756-Regional: Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline project progress report which has been dispatched to the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr.
Asim Hussain, Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jaipal Reddy, Minister for Oil and Gas and Natural Resources Turkmenistan and Minister for Mines, Afghanistan Wahidullah Shahrani.
ADB had earmarked $225,000 TA aimed at facilitating negotiations amongst the four parties.
The governments of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan , Pakistan , and India have been consulted by the Bank on the extent of assistance needed to facilitate the necessary agreements to trade in the exportation and importation of natural gas in the four countries.
"We are pleased to report significant progress made by the parties in bringing TAPI project closer to reality.
India, Pakistan and Turkmenistan initiated majority of the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement(GSPA).
Nevertheless, the target GSPA signing date November 15, 2011 set during the 14th Steering Committee meeting in Ashqabat has not been met," ADB said in the report.
With regard to Afghanistan, the Bank said that there is no agreement on price.
A few GSPA clauses need further fine-tuning.
As a way forward, the ADB has suggested that the parties be allowed to continue working in Technical Working Group (TWG) and bilateral formats to finalise GSPA as soon as possible.
ADB has also proposed to call the 16th TWG meeting to bring the parties together in an effort to finalise the minor GSPA issues and hold further discussions on transit fee.
The necessary bilateral discussion between the parties may be carried out on the sidelines.
The Steering Committee has been requested to empower their representatives to approve new target GSPA signing within first quarter of 2012.
Recently, Pakistan inked one-paper 'intention' of signing GSPA for TAPI pipeline project, and not the agreement.
Camouflaging the media, the Petroleum Ministry suggested that the agreement on gas sales purchase relating to the gas pipeline project was inked by the Managing Director of Inter-State Gas System, Mubeen Saulat, and Chairman of Turkmenistan Gas Trade Concern Amanali Hanalyev.
Since mid-2010, the momentum of project negotiations picked up and, in December 2010, Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA), Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement (GPFA) and Heads of Agreement (HOA) for TAPI, GSPA were signed in Turkmenistan.
Full Artical Here:http://www.brecorder.com/top-stories/single/595/0:/1138881:tapi-gas-pipeline-project-afghanistan-blocks-progress/?date=2012-01-02
This information is contained in the Asian Development Bank(ADB) Technical Assistance (TA) 7756-Regional: Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline project progress report which has been dispatched to the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr.
Asim Hussain, Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jaipal Reddy, Minister for Oil and Gas and Natural Resources Turkmenistan and Minister for Mines, Afghanistan Wahidullah Shahrani.
ADB had earmarked $225,000 TA aimed at facilitating negotiations amongst the four parties.
The governments of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan , Pakistan , and India have been consulted by the Bank on the extent of assistance needed to facilitate the necessary agreements to trade in the exportation and importation of natural gas in the four countries.
"We are pleased to report significant progress made by the parties in bringing TAPI project closer to reality.
India, Pakistan and Turkmenistan initiated majority of the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement(GSPA).
Nevertheless, the target GSPA signing date November 15, 2011 set during the 14th Steering Committee meeting in Ashqabat has not been met," ADB said in the report.
With regard to Afghanistan, the Bank said that there is no agreement on price.
A few GSPA clauses need further fine-tuning.
As a way forward, the ADB has suggested that the parties be allowed to continue working in Technical Working Group (TWG) and bilateral formats to finalise GSPA as soon as possible.
ADB has also proposed to call the 16th TWG meeting to bring the parties together in an effort to finalise the minor GSPA issues and hold further discussions on transit fee.
The necessary bilateral discussion between the parties may be carried out on the sidelines.
The Steering Committee has been requested to empower their representatives to approve new target GSPA signing within first quarter of 2012.
Recently, Pakistan inked one-paper 'intention' of signing GSPA for TAPI pipeline project, and not the agreement.
Camouflaging the media, the Petroleum Ministry suggested that the agreement on gas sales purchase relating to the gas pipeline project was inked by the Managing Director of Inter-State Gas System, Mubeen Saulat, and Chairman of Turkmenistan Gas Trade Concern Amanali Hanalyev.
Since mid-2010, the momentum of project negotiations picked up and, in December 2010, Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA), Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement (GPFA) and Heads of Agreement (HOA) for TAPI, GSPA were signed in Turkmenistan.
Full Artical Here:http://www.brecorder.com/top-stories/single/595/0:/1138881:tapi-gas-pipeline-project-afghanistan-blocks-progress/?date=2012-01-02
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)