Ukraine, China ink synthetic gas production plant dealDecember 5, 2013 - 20:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukraine has signed a long-expected deal to cooperate with China on constructing an energy plant to convert coal into synthetic natural gas, RIA Novosti said. The project will allow about 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas to be replaced annually with the synthetic coal-based product, Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said in a statement Thursday, December 5. The statement said the plant would provide a market for the production of 10 million tons of coal annually and create over 2,000 jobs. Ukraine’s state gas and oil company Naftogaz signed a $3.7 billion credit agreement last year with China’s state-owned Development Bank to finance the program. China’s National Chemical Engineering contractor and its subsidiary, Wuhuan Engineering, will provide Ukraine with the technology to build the plant. Synthetic gas production is a multibillion-dollar pollution-reduction project in China, which as of September had approved 18 of its own plants capable of producing 75 billion cubic meters of gas annually, according to the World Resources Institute. The idea has drawn criticism from environmentalists, however, who say the amount of greenhouse gases produced in the conversion process could accelerate climate change. Synthetic gas is a cheap energy alternative for Ukraine, which is desperately trying to cut its dependence on costly Russian natural gas. Russia’s gas export monopoly Gazprom says Ukraine is currently $2 billion behind on gas payments. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |