India-Russia: News & Analysis

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 21 Oct 2014 07:00

Because there is no better place for misc. important international neuj: meh.

BSR Murthy · Post by **BSR Murthy** » 21 Oct 2014 07:18

"Anti-Petrodollar" CEO Of French Energy Giant Total Dies In Freak Plane Crash In Moscow
http://rt.com/news/197648-moscow-vnukovo-jet-crash/

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 22 Oct 2014 01:17

I remember reading this story before and now the plot has changed. Moving away from US backed oil invoicing system will put a laser dot on your head.

Things are heating up in cyber space and now with the Nordic Russian sub hunt. It's best we keep our heads low in all this.

Mukesh.Kumar · Post by **Mukesh.Kumar** » 22 Oct 2014 01:29

X-Post- International Naval News thread. Something's up and the Russians are getting a little worked up. My acquaintance speaking on the Total issue raised oil price and asked me what was the news on the ground in MENA on ISIL surviving beyond 6 onths at this low oil prices. More than 6 months is difficult times for Russia

Mukesh.Kumar wrote:And the merry go round continues- Rossiya Gazetta now claims that DD never left port and her crew have been calling home from the ship. Truly smoke and mirrors for me.

Can some guru's put up a hypothesis of what's going on?

OT Alert: On a related topic was having a chat with a friend. Seems that the Russians are a little worried about depressed oil prices and today's Total CEO incident.

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 23 Oct 2014 19:16

Oil slump leaves Russia even weaker than decaying Soviet Union

Looks like the real KGB soldier's not so shtrong after all. On a more serious note, Russia is a valuable ally. This is going to hurt us in the short-middle term.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 23 Oct 2014 23:14

^^
>> Russia had the chance at the end of the Cold War to build a modern, diversified economy, with the enthusiastic help of the West. That chance has been squandered

LOL only

kuldipchager · Post by **kuldipchager** » 24 Oct 2014 03:27

Karan M

Post subject: Re: India-Russia: News & Analysis

PostPosted: 23 Oct 2014 23:14

Offline
BRF Oldie

Joined: 19 Mar 2010 00:58
Posts: 5514

^^
>> Russia had the chance at the end of the Cold War to build a modern, diversified economy, with the enthusiastic help of the West. That chance has been squandered

I don't think that would have help Russia to build modern economy. All west was waiting how badly Russia bleed in to the internal conflicts. Once you point a gun at some body I don't that they will be your friend. Russia is industrial state.They help others lot.

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 24 Oct 2014 14:45

Karan M wrote:^^
>> Russia had the chance at the end of the Cold War to build a modern, diversified economy, with the enthusiastic help of the West. That chance has been squandered

LOL only

The EU did source critical energy supplies from Russia. Whether that constituted enthusiastic help or not, it was certainly not the sort of act directed against an avowed enemy. There was nothing stopping Putin from turning Russian polity and economy into one that looked more like any of the EU's top economies.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 24 Oct 2014 17:53

Look like EU Economy are you serious ?

This is what the cover story of The Economist latest issue is

Russian economist by nature are very conservationist so they wont ever be like EU or US.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 24 Oct 2014 18:27

KrishnaK sourcing cheap energy supplies for their own self interest is hardly enthusiastic help of any sort. Granted the Russian economy could do with improvement, but the selective cherry picking of data and the sort of ludicrous over the top proclamations about the kindly west vs eebil/incompetent Putin and co, the sort of correlations the article in the Telegraph article seeks to make, is jingoistic drivel.

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 25 Oct 2014 20:11

Austin wrote:Look like EU Economy are you serious ?

Quite

This is what the cover story of The Economist latest issue is

Without western demand, all developing economies will be about as dead too. Russia will have nobody to sell oil to.

Russian economist by nature are very conservationist so they wont ever be like EU or US.

Do you mean conservative ? I don't know what to say boss. You'll believe what you want to believe I guess.

member_22733 · Post by **member_22733** » 25 Oct 2014 22:51

KrishnaK wrote: Without western demand, all developing economies will be about as dead too. Russia will have nobody to sell oil to.

If the west disappears tomorrow, NOTHING will happen to the world economy in the long term (20 - 30 years). There might be a 5 year depression, but after that things will continue as if oirope never existed in the first place.

The world has seen the rise and fall of many empires, nothing really killed it or nothing really died. Even the plunder of the brishits and their genocide in India never managed to kill the Indian economy entirely.

Europe is important, so is the US but it is never a necessary condition for economic prosperity for other countries. In fact I would argue on the contrary, they are the reason why the rest of the countries are struggling.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 26 Oct 2014 02:46

Notwithstanding the month old article here,and the recent Russo-Chinese deals for Su-35s,Amurs,etc.,The building up of Vietnam's defence capability by Indo-Russo-Viet projects as a counter to China is a none-too-subtle way in which China will be kept occupied in the Indo-China Sea.Indo-Viet defence cooperation is growing rapdily,with arms from Russia also being used by india,which will provide training and operative experience.The poss. of Indian base facilities at Cam Ranh Bay,etc.,for the IN cannot be ruled out in the future,as China has gained access to Pak's Gwadar port at the entrance to the Perisan Gulf.Tit for tat.

https://news.vice.com/article/the-vietn ... n-the-cold

The Vietnam-India-Russia Military Ménage à Trois Leaves China in the Cold
By Ryan Faith
September 10, 2014 | 3:05 am

While Vietnam and China may seem to have made amends in their South China Sea territorial disputes, or at least come to a mutual understanding that further disputes should be resolved peacefully, it may not be that simple. China and Vietnam have been arguing about control of islands in the region, and their corresponding territorial waters, for years.

That dispute reached a fever pitch this summer when Chinese authorities started moving an offshore drilling rig around the area for exploratory drilling; resulting in widespread anti-China riots and protests in Vietnam, including one self-immolation. More recently, senior Vietnamese officials visited China, and were able to carve out an agreement about a future dispute resolution mechanism.

Woman's self-immolation lights the murky fires of sovereignty in the South China Sea. Read more.

Vietnam, meanwhile, isn't apparently going to file this under "No harm, no foul" and is instead continuing with plans to arm up, just in case. This November, Vietnam will be receiving a delivery of an Improved Kilo-class submarine, the third in a package of six that it purchased from Russia in 2009. Vietnam signed the 2009 agreement around the same time as China's announcement of the nine-dash line, in which China laid claim to 80 percent of the South China Sea.

These subs are very roughly comparable (or a bit better) than the Kilo submarines China has in its inventory. To help Vietnam make better use of their newly-purchased submarines and payload of new Klub submarine-launched anti-ship missiles, India agreed last year to train 500 Vietnamese sailors.

This cooperation between Vietnam, Russia, and India extends into other domains as well. In August, Vietnam also purchased another 12 Su-30MK2 fighters — a long-range, maritime strike aircraft — and hopes to have 36 of the aircraft deployed by 2015. India and Vietnam are expected to sign an agreement when Indian President Pranab Mukherjee visits next week that will include Indian training for Vietnamese Su-30 pilots. India already operates a Su-30 variant, and has been building increasingly close ties with Vietnam as part of its Look East policy.

Beyond the deal to train pilots, Vietnam may also sign agreement for the purchase of BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles. The BrahMos missile is the product of a Russian-Indian joint venture and has a claimed speed of Mach 3.0+ and a range of more than 180 miles. The missile is one of the fastest anti-ship missiles made and a significant anti-ship cruise missile threat, able to reach targets well into the South China Sea.

India has been on the fence about exporting these missiles to Vietnam, mindful of its relationship with China, but an unnamed source in an article by the Russia&India Report noted "We understand their concerns, but then China is not ready to appreciate our concerns about the threat from Pakistan."

Trickle-down nuclear Armageddon. Read more.

Altogether, these submarines, Sukhoi fighter jets, and supersonic cruise missiles have the makings of a very effective deterrent threat and Anti-Access/Area-Denial (or A2/AD) strategy for Vietnam. A2/AD strategies are intended to prevent navies from projecting power into an area, and came into the spotlight in the defense community a few years ago, when China shifted to such an approach to deny the US access to the Western Pacific.

Now it seems that India is willing to consider putting the screws to China on its disputes with Vietnam, as long as China seems unwilling to help India in their territorial disputes with Pakistan. Meanwhile, Russia seems content to arm the Vietnamese, perhaps reasoning that denying Chinese access to South China Sea energy resources will make them a lucrative market for Russian energy firms.

Of course, none of these moves are in isolation. Other nations in the region, such as Indonesia, are interested in purchasing BrahMos missiles. Japan has been working to build ties with India, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other countries. The US is edging closer to establishing tighter ties with Vietnam as it works to build a tighter relationship with China. There's no guessing where everything will land once the music stops, but it seems that Vietnam is going to try to weather this by speaking softly and carrying a big stick

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 26 Oct 2014 04:05

Lokeshji i differ, the west is truly the engine of innovation currently and for some time to come. If they disappear, rate of change of human scientific progress will take a hit. But not disappear as East Asia has picked up a fair amount in tech. Problem is they in the west as Govts and power structures, have forgotten about soft power and good development - medicine, humility, compassion for the weak, as pririties, and depend only on realpolitik and barely disguised concepts of racial,religious and exceptionalist superiority. It's stupid really. If they put as much money and effort into solving AIDs or common health issues as into waging pyrrhic wars, the whole world would be at their feet. But they don't get it.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 26 Oct 2014 04:10

But I agree with you that western demand is overblown. Asia and Africa alone can pick up the slack in demand for finished goods and services and the fall of conspicuous consumption in the west may be a good thing for the human condition as well. KrishnaK sees the US/west as the exemplar of all things good judging by his posts, rest of us are more sanguine and would rather see both, good and bad.

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 26 Oct 2014 06:37

But I agree with you that western demand is overblown. Asia and Africa alone can pick up the slack in demand for finished goods and services and the fall of conspicuous consumption in the west may be a good thing for the human condition as well.

Clearly backed up by data. US trade deficit is 700+ billion USD. More then the deficits of 6-7 next countries on the list, which of course includes us. The biggest surpluses China and India have are with the US. The EU is the second largest trading partner for both countries.

It's stupid really. If they put as much money and effort into solving AIDs or common health issues as into waging pyrrhic wars, the whole world would be at their feet. But they don't get it.

If that's so why doesn't Asia and Africa put money into solving AIDs or common health issues ? Per your claim they have the demand and they're not given to the ills of conspicuous consumption, pyrrhic wars, realpolitik and barely disguised concepts of racial,religious and exceptionalist superiority. Why depend on the racist west at all hain ji ?

KrishnaK sees the US/west as the exemplar of all things good judging by his posts, rest of us are more sanguine and would rather see both, good and bad.

These posts are in the same class as Phillip's NAM ones about India being the centre of gravitas of something or the other. Mungerilal ke haseen sapne.

member_20317 · Post by **member_20317** » 26 Oct 2014 10:36

KrishnaK wrote:If that's so why doesn't Asia and Africa put money into solving AIDs or common health issues ? Per your claim they have the demand and they're not given to the ills of conspicuous consumption, pyrrhic wars, realpolitik and barely disguised concepts of racial,religious and exceptionalist superiority. Why depend on the racist west at all hain ji ?

Yes please, you tell us why they don't do it.

I really would like to listen. In the OT dhaga if you plan to be elaborate or here itself if its gonna be short.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Oct 2014 10:40

India to take Moscow route to channel oil payments to Tehran

India oil refiners’ payments to Iran, which continue to be stymied by sanctions on Tehran despite interim leniency shown by the US and five other world powers to the Persian Gulf country, may finally get easier with Moscow agreeing to play intermediary. Russia, which recently signed an agreement with Iran for oil purchases from the West Asian country, would institute an oil swap mechanism with India that will mean that practically New Delhi will have to pay Russia for Iranian oil with Moscow assuming the risk of routing the funds to Tehran.

The new arrangement, sources said, may be part of a package deal encompassing defence and energy sectors that India and Russia are slated to negotiate in detail during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in December. India’s immediate payment to Iran of $900 million in two tranches beginning next week will be made through the existing mechanism where Indian oil companies deposit funds in rupees in an Indian bank.

Click here for graph

Iran then appropriates the money based on a series of back-to-back transactions in different currencies that are initially channelled through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Indian oil refiners’ combined dues to Iran currently stand at close to $6 billion. Frozen oil revenues from India and elsewhere have been a problem for Iran for the last few years.

The difficulty in making payments has also resulted in India cutting down its oil purchases from Iran drastically in recent years: Of India’s total oil imports of 189 million tonnes (mt) last year, just 11 mt or 5.8% came from Iran. India had imported over 21 mt of crude from Iran in 2009-10.

According to sources privy to the discussions between the India and Russia, the idea is to streamline payments for oil shipments from Iran. They added that energy security, besides defence trade, will be topping the agenda of Putin’s visit to India. “Both sides are working on a ‘vision document’ that will be released during the summit where energy security will be a highlight. It will be dealing with three major areas: gas pipeline; oil pipeline and most importantly getting the Iranian crude oil to India through Russia,” said an official.

As per the current mechanism for payment that has seen many alterations due to the sensitivity of the matter, India deposits the funds in rupees in an Indian bank, which is later utilised by Iran to pay for its imports from India.

PSU refiner Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical

(MRPL) consumes most of the Iranian crude oil in India, followed by the Ruias-promoted Essar Oil. The country’s biggest refiner Indian Oil Corporation uses little volume of Iranian crude oil.

After the sanctions on the Islamic country by Western powers for its alleged nuclear activities in 2012, India has reduced its imports from Iran and started buying more from other suppliers such as Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela. In FY14, India bought 11 mt of crude oil from Iran and volumes are likely to remain the same in the current financial year.

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/busine ... uFcGb.dpuf

member_22733 · Post by **member_22733** » 27 Oct 2014 00:28

Karan M wrote:Lokeshji i differ, the west is truly the engine of innovation currently and for some time to come. If they disappear, rate of change of human scientific progress will take a hit. But not disappear as East Asia has picked up a fair amount in tech. Problem is they in the west as Govts and power structures, have forgotten about soft power and good development - medicine, humility, compassion for the weak, as pririties, and depend only on realpolitik and barely disguised concepts of racial,religious and exceptionalist superiority. It's stupid really. If they put as much money and effort into solving AIDs or common health issues as into waging pyrrhic wars, the whole world would be at their feet. But they don't get it.

Karan sir,

Please consider this: In early 1940s the US exploded the first nuclear bomb. In 1947, we were a raped civilization that had no technological basis or industrial capability. In 1974 we had our first nuclear detonation. The gap: 37 years.

In 1960s US figured out cryogenic propulsion, we figured that out in 2013. The gap: 53 years.

We are very close to figuring out SCBs, seeker tech etc.

The belief that the west IS the reason why technology is moving forward does not stand much scrutiny. The west is an engine of technological growth, that much is true but it is not an inevitability.

Now, imagine this again wrt rocket technology: West disappears tomorrow. We have GSLV, countries come to us to launch satellites instead of going to the west. Soon our space technology progresses, and we far exceed wherever west would have reached in the same timeframe.

Oirope and the west is a HINDRANCE to technology and industry in the non-western nations. They are a bane... not a boon.

We can take this to the OT thread if you want to discuss further

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 27 Oct 2014 17:53

ravi_g wrote:
KrishnaK wrote:If that's so why doesn't Asia and Africa put money into solving AIDs or common health issues ? Per your claim they have the demand and they're not given to the ills of conspicuous consumption, pyrrhic wars, realpolitik and barely disguised concepts of racial,religious and exceptionalist superiority. Why depend on the racist west at all hain ji ?
Yes please, you tell us why they don't do it.

I really would like to listen. In the OT dhaga if you plan to be elaborate or here itself if its gonna be short.

Within Asia and Africa there seems to be lot of diversity in what each country's individual ability to invest in education and R&D is. That is going to be a function of the GDP. Asia/Africa can't compete with the ability of the west to do the same. Without western capital AND consumption to jumpstart our GDP growth we're going to have a tough time getting there too. This is especially true for India, which being a democracy can't ignore the dirt poor. The idea that Asia and Africa can pick up the slack in just US consumption is ridiculous nonsense. If that were possible today, it'd be done already.

habal · Post by **habal** » 27 Oct 2014 17:57

you mean the 300 million or so americans can eat and shit a lot more than anyone else in the world ?

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 27 Oct 2014 18:40

^^trolling and baiting is ill advised. Please desist.

vijaykarthik · Post by **vijaykarthik** » 27 Oct 2014 18:45

KrishnaK wrote: Within Asia and Africa there seems to be lot of diversity in what each country's individual ability to invest in education and R&D is. That is going to be a function of the GDP. Asia/Africa can't compete with the ability of the west to do the same. Without western capital AND consumption to jumpstart our GDP growth we're going to have a tough time getting there too. This is especially true for India, which being a democracy can't ignore the dirt poor. The idea that Asia and Africa can pick up the slack in just US consumption is ridiculous nonsense. If that were possible today, it'd be done already.

Purely from a mathematical viewpoint, if there were a slack because the west gets demolished / otherwise, the producers [countries, firms etc] will just stop producing and produce just about enough to ensure that the margins are maintained, stuff happens etc etc. Basically means the GDP deflates constantly for all countries. Basically means money loses value and we all devalue. Perhaps simultaneously.

I don't see why you have to assume that the dev countries naturally need to pick up the pent up demand? Why ever will any idiot (regardless of countries) need to pick up consumption just because the producer wants volumes?

member_28714 · Post by **member_28714** » 27 Oct 2014 18:52

Austin wrote:India to take Moscow route to channel oil payments to Tehran
India oil refiners’ payments to Iran, which continue to be stymied by sanctions on Tehran despite interim leniency shown by the US and five other world powers to the Persian Gulf country, may finally get easier with Moscow agreeing to play intermediary. Russia, which recently signed an agreement with Iran for oil purchases from the West Asian country, would institute an oil swap mechanism with India that will mean that practically New Delhi will have to pay Russia for Iranian oil with Moscow assuming the risk of routing the funds to Tehran.

The new arrangement, sources said, may be part of a package deal encompassing defence and energy sectors that India and Russia are slated to negotiate in detail during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in December. India’s immediate payment to Iran of $900 million in two tranches beginning next week will be made through the existing mechanism where Indian oil companies deposit funds in rupees in an Indian bank.

Click here for graph

Iran then appropriates the money based on a series of back-to-back transactions in different currencies that are initially channelled through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Indian oil refiners’ combined dues to Iran currently stand at close to $6 billion. Frozen oil revenues from India and elsewhere have been a problem for Iran for the last few years.

The difficulty in making payments has also resulted in India cutting down its oil purchases from Iran drastically in recent years: Of India’s total oil imports of 189 million tonnes (mt) last year, just 11 mt or 5.8% came from Iran. India had imported over 21 mt of crude from Iran in 2009-10.

According to sources privy to the discussions between the India and Russia, the idea is to streamline payments for oil shipments from Iran. They added that energy security, besides defence trade, will be topping the agenda of Putin’s visit to India. “Both sides are working on a ‘vision document’ that will be released during the summit where energy security will be a highlight. It will be dealing with three major areas: gas pipeline; oil pipeline and most importantly getting the Iranian crude oil to India through Russia,” said an official.

As per the current mechanism for payment that has seen many alterations due to the sensitivity of the matter, India deposits the funds in rupees in an Indian bank, which is later utilised by Iran to pay for its imports from India.

PSU refiner Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical

(MRPL) consumes most of the Iranian crude oil in India, followed by the Ruias-promoted Essar Oil. The country’s biggest refiner Indian Oil Corporation uses little volume of Iranian crude oil.

After the sanctions on the Islamic country by Western powers for its alleged nuclear activities in 2012, India has reduced its imports from Iran and started buying more from other suppliers such as Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela. In FY14, India bought 11 mt of crude oil from Iran and volumes are likely to remain the same in the current financial year.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/busine ... uFcGb.dpuf

India and China could account for 30% of oil consumption by 2020. Imagine if the dollar is kept out of that chunk. This is Putins angle. Will be awesome if it works.

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 27 Oct 2014 19:21

vijaykarthik wrote: I don't see why you have to assume that the dev countries naturally need to pick up the pent up demand? Why ever will any idiot (regardless of countries) need to pick up consumption just because the producer wants volumes?

I never claimed anybody would step in fill up the slack. It was a claim made by KaranM in response to my statement that we/Russia require the west to continue consuming to finance exports.

habal · Post by **habal** » 27 Oct 2014 19:53

It seems to have eluded you that without a gun to everyone's head, the US dollar has no preference as reserve currency. I mean, why would countries want to export to US to earn dollars and thus have the ability to import from others, esp things as basic as oil.

This entire system is unnatural and has been setup to be demolished. This is a globalist agenda wherein the globalists themselves have a hand (&leg) in creating the problem which they will help resolve in future.

If you remove dollar as reserve currency and preferred method of payment for oil, the next moment you will see rest of the world consumption quadrupling that of anaemic EU + US levels.

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 29 Oct 2014 04:52

habal wrote:It seems to have eluded you that without a gun to everyone's head, the US dollar has no preference as reserve currency. I mean, why would countries want to export to US to earn dollars and thus have the ability to import from others, esp things as basic as oil.

This entire system is unnatural and has been setup to be demolished. This is a globalist agenda wherein the globalists themselves have a hand (&leg) in creating the problem which they will help resolve in future.

If you remove dollar as reserve currency and preferred method of payment for oil, the next moment you will see rest of the world consumption quadrupling that of anaemic EU + US levels.

If it was only dollar as the reserve currency that holds the world back, why did the warsaw pact not have 4x the west's GDP. Common sense seems to have eluded you completely. Pointless arguing you with you or even on this topic.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 29 Oct 2014 06:49

KrishnaK wrote:Clearly backed up by data. US trade deficit is 700+ billion USD. More then the deficits of 6-7 next countries on the list, which of course includes us. The biggest surpluses China and India have are with the US. The EU is the second largest trading partner for both countries.

You seem to have a reading comprehension issue. I mentioned trends (i.e. it will take time to develop but head there) and second, that the overall level may not be at the same level even so, and that might still be better off for us all in the long run given the challenges with conspicuous consumption sustainability. One doesn't have to think like you or post your moronic telegraph level jingoistic screeds.

If that's so why doesn't Asia and Africa put money into solving AIDs or common health issues ? Per your claim they have the demand and they're not given to the ills of conspicuous consumption, pyrrhic wars, realpolitik and barely disguised concepts of racial,religious and exceptionalist superiority. Why depend on the racist west at all hain ji ?

If you weren't being an apologist for the depraved & were also civilized enough not to put words in other folks mouths, you'd realize that I never said Asia & Africa dont have elements of all the above. I merely pointed out that if they were to spend more on things that matter, it would be a positive. And as to the reason why they are not doing so, it relates to their current economic and social challenges, many of which are directly related to the kind of racist and economic exploitation these regions suffered for centuries at the hands of colonials, causing or exacerbating their problems and at the time in all probability cheered on by the likes of you.

These posts are in the same class as Phillip's NAM ones about India being the centre of gravitas of something or the other. Mungerilal ke haseen sapne.

As versus your posts, which are barely disguised third rate screeds about how your area of residentship must not be criticized ever. This is BR, not WR forum, in case your facilities havent grasped that yet. And Philip, no matter how much I'd disagree with him otherwise, stays in India, contributes to the Indian national endeavour and his posts reflect as much reality as yours. While attacking Philip, look in the mirror sometime.

habal · Post by **habal** » 29 Oct 2014 11:16

KrishnaK wrote:why did the warsaw pact not have 4x the west's GDP. Common sense seems to have eluded you completely. Pointless arguing you with you or even on this topic.

because during warsaw pact, fiat currency was solidly backed up by gold reserves. Currency printing art form started with 90s especially since USA wanted to establish economic hegemony. One can still go all anal and deny everything contrary to one's brief, but if you keep an open mind then things are pretty obvious.

arun · Post by **arun** » 29 Oct 2014 20:55

KrishnaK wrote:Oil slump leaves Russia even weaker than decaying Soviet Union

Looks like the real KGB soldier's not so shtrong after all. On a more serious note, Russia is a valuable ally. This is going to hurt us in the short-middle term.

Russia’s monopoly of supplying gas to Lithuania broken by docking of a LNG Floating Storage and Regasification unit (FSRU) ”Independence” in a port of that country.

FSRU Independence’s regasification capacity exceeds volume of gas imported by Lithuania from Russia leaving spare capacity to cater to demand from Baltic neighbours Latvia and Estonia:

LNG terminal frees Lithuanian from Russian gas monopoly

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 29 Oct 2014 23:43

When is the Russian terminal on the far-east coast to export petroleum products going to start?

We need to hedge risk and diversify resource logistics for win-win scenario, thereby delivering lowest risk supply for our own needs.

Also thereby reduce dependence on jihadi financiers and indirect blackmails and bankrolling jihadis in India, too.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 29 Oct 2014 23:51

arun wrote:
KrishnaK wrote:Oil slump leaves Russia even weaker than decaying Soviet Union

Looks like the real KGB soldier's not so shtrong after all. On a more serious note, Russia is a valuable ally. This is going to hurt us in the short-middle term.
Russia’s monopoly of supplying gas to Lithuania broken by docking of a LNG Floating Storage and Regasification unit (FSRU) ”Independence” in a port of that country.

FSRU Independence’s regasification capacity exceeds volume of gas imported by Lithuania from Russia leaving spare capacity to cater to demand from Baltic neighbours Latvia and Estonia:

LNG terminal frees Lithuanian from Russian gas monopoly

Just a guess but that LNG costs 2x the Russian price for Urope

arun · Post by **arun** » 30 Oct 2014 15:47

X Posted from the “India Nuclear News and Discussion 4 July 2011” thread.

Going by the frequent outages at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, looks like the Russians have sold us a lemon.

Power outages at Kudankulam nuclear plant dangerous: Study

Laxmi Ajai Prasanna, TNN | Oct 29, 2014, 12.25AM IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: According to a study based on analysis of grid data, there have been 21 power outages at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) from Oct 22, 2013, to Oct 22, 2014. Of these 21 outages, 14 are "scrams'' or trips caused by faulty equipment or poor oversight, or both, and, according to experts, can be potentially catastrophic.

The first part of the study published in academia.edu, an online research community, points out that the maximum permitted trip rate -- calculated per 7,000 reactor hours -- is 0.37 for reactors across the world. Alarmingly, in Kudankulam (in its 4,701 hours of operation), the trip rate is projected at 20.8 per 7,000 reactor hours. In the US, a plant with 25 scrams during a 7,000-hour period is issued a "red" citation and will be forced to shut down.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) scientist M J Joseph, Society of Science Environment and Ethics (SoSEE) chairman V T Padmanabhan and Dr R Ramesh, a medical practitioner, who has authored books on the geology of Kudankulam and is a member of Doctors for Safer Environment.

The main reason for the 'scrams' is old equipment, including reactor pressure vessels, turbines and polar cranes at KKNP, all imported from post-Chernobyl Soviet Union.

"Trip rate for KKNPP is 20.8 per 7,000 reactor hours, which is too high and can trigger an explosion leading to a nuclear disaster. It is due to the use of old equipment imported after Chernobyl nuclear disaster when the erstwhile Soviet Union cancelled the VVER-1000 reactors, a Russian version of the Pressurized Water Reactor," Prof Joseph said.

CUSAT scientist Prof M Sabir said, "If substandard materials are used in a nuclear reactor and if quality checks are not maintained, obviously chances of a disaster are high". He said that an earlier study conducted by scientists from CUSAT, Bremen University, Sussex University and based on official documents from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd and their Russian counterparts had concluded that major equipment at KKNPP like the reactor pressure vessel and polar crane are outdated.

"Though China discarded such equipment after initial imports, India continued importing such equipment for KKNPP," Prof Joseph said.

Incidentally, a turbine generator system imported from Russian firm Silmash was involved in eight of the 14 trips reported at KKNPP. Three other trips and the pipe burst accident on May 14 this year (officially known as "warm water incident") were related to the feed water system. Both the feed water system and the turbine are located in the same auxiliary building.

According to the scientists, what could hamper remedial measures is the secretive manner in which relevant information is treated. At KKNPP, all documents related to functioning of the nuclear reactor are property of the Russian firm Atomstroy, which exports all nuclear power machinery.

Officials of the Department of Atomic Energy and AERB were unavailable for comment.

Web-link is below:

TOI

Meanwhile it was reported in an article dateline Oct. 20th that owing to major problem turbine problem Unit 1 of Kudankulam Power Plant is to be Shut Down for 6 to 8 Weeks:

Unit 1 of Kudankulam Power Plant Shut Down for 6 to 8 Weeks

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 31 Oct 2014 20:53

I'll stick to this gem, for there are too many to respond to without taking this well OT.

Karan M wrote: given the challenges with conspicuous consumption sustainability.

Some kid in India who's going to grow inches shorter because of malnutrition or some woman who's going to die at childbirth probably thinks of the resources it takes to run forum of bharat rakshaks and mount a very stout defense of the desh's honour on the internet as depraved conspicuous consumption too

bharats · Post by **bharats** » 31 Oct 2014 22:59

India and Israel to supply meat and dairy to Russia
Link http://rt.com/business/200047-russia-india-meat-milk/

Four Indian food suppliers have been given access to Russian markets, and Israeli meat and dairy products are expected on Russian shelves as early as in the end of 2014. A full list of Indian companies allowed to export meat and dairy products to Russia is expected by the end of the year, says Deputy Economic Development Minister Aleksey Likhachyov.

Within a few weeks, Russian experts will inspect and certify a number of food processing plants in India, RIA quotes Likhachyov as saying. "Four companies have already been certified. Rosselkhoznadzor [Russian Federal Veterinary watchdog] has planned a series of inspections in order to permit access to products of particular companies,” Likhachyov said after a meeting of the Russian-Indian working group on priority investment projects. "Some of the decisions related to the access of agricultural products to the Russian market will be adopted before the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission scheduled for November 5,” he added.

First batches of Israeli products could arrive in Russia before the end of the year, said Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich after a meeting in Jerusalem. He said Russia is also interested in agricultural technology from Israel. It would mean creating dairy, cattle breeding, and vegetable growing businesses in Russia. The Deputy Prime Minister added that Israeli and Russian companies can use the full range of state support. Russia began talks with alternative food suppliers after banning agricultural and food products from the US, EU, Norway, Canada and Australia in response to anti-Russian sanctions over the Ukrainian conflict. The value of banned food in 2013 was about $9.1 billion according to figures from the Federal Customs Service. Latin America countries, China and Serbia have already increased its food exports to Russia.

RSoami · Post by **RSoami** » 31 Oct 2014 23:25

Some kid in India who's going to grow inches shorter because of malnutrition or some woman who's going to die at childbirth probably thinks of the resources it takes to run forum of bharat rakshaks and mount a very stout defense of the desh's honour on the internet as depraved conspicuous consumption too

Possibly, but it is more likely that they will blame western capitalist consumption for colonising and exploiting their land for centuries and will appreciate the work being done by Bharatrakshak to ensure that at least some people are working/thinking/writing to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Nov 2014 00:20

KrishnaK wrote:I'll stick to this gem, for there are too many to respond to without taking this well OT.
Karan M wrote: given the challenges with conspicuous consumption sustainability.
Some kid in India who's going to grow inches shorter because of malnutrition or some woman who's going to die at childbirth probably thinks of the resources it takes to run forum of bharat rakshaks and mount a very stout defense of the desh's honour on the internet as depraved conspicuous consumption too

I guess that is how the West ensured that all their citizens have food to eat and their maternal care is of good standards.

Raja Bose · Post by **Raja Bose** » 01 Nov 2014 02:49

Mod note: Karan M, KrishnaK, you would do well to heed JeM's warning earlier. Please cease and desist from all the baiting (KrishnaK) and name calling (Karan M). Any further posts like the ones above will result in warnings being issued. Thank you.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 05 Nov 2014 21:38

India starts preparations for free trade zone with Customs Union

The country supported a proposal to establish a workshop to prepare to sign a free trade agreement with the Customs Union, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin says

NEW DELHI, November 5. /TASS/. India has supported a proposal to establish a workshop to prepare to sign a free trade agreement with the Customs Union comprising Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told reporters Wednesday.

“Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj (who is also chairwoman of intergovernmental commission) has informed us that the creation of the workshop was approved by Indian authorities. This means that we will proceed with activities of this group starting from today,” Rogozin said.

India announced its interest in free trade with the Customs Union last year.

Russia-India joint Sukhoi Superjet-100 production

Russia and India discussed the prospects of launching the joint production of Sukhoi Superjet-100 medium-haul airliners on Indian soil, Dmitry Rogozin said after a meeting of the Russian-Indian inter-governmental commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical and cultural cooperation.

“The talk is about producing Sukhoi Superjet-100 airliners on Indian soil. The planes can be produced both for the needs of the Indian market and for sale to third countries,” Rogozin said.

India also “showed interest in the MS-21 medium-haul passenger airliner,” which fully meets “the requirements of the Indian market both by the number of passenger seats (180 passengers) and the flight distance (up to 5,000 km), the Russian vice-premier said.

The first MS-21 plane is set “for its first flight in 2016 and the start of its serial production is scheduled for 2017,” Rogozin said.

Russia also considers as promising its cooperation with India in helicopter-making, the Russian vice-premier said.

“Our proposal in this sphere boils down to using Ka-226 helicopters both for civilian and military needs,” the vice-premier said.

Joint production of GLONASS modules

Russia has offered India to launch joint production of GLONASS modules, Russian Vice-Premier Dmitry Rogozin told journalists on Wednesday.

“Space cooperation was a separate item on the agenda. We agreed to hold separate consultations on this subject. I mean manned cosmonautics and projects linked to the joint production of the Russian GLONASS navigation system, including joint productions of modules for receiving GLONASS signals,” Rogozin said.

The vice-premier said that Russia considered joint production of modules to be possible, especially if India agreed to introduce the ERA GLONASS system of satellite monitoring of transport for automatic transmission of signals to emergency response centers in emergency situations.

Rogozin also focused on another promising area of Russian-Indian cooperation such as joint production of electronic components and bilateral projects in the sphere of space instrument engineering.

“I believe that we are going to reach understanding on adjustment of our space programmes when Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India (in December) or shortly after it,” Rogozin stressed.

The Russian vice-premier is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is the Indian co-chairman of the Russian-Indian inter-governmental commission for trade, economic, scientific-technological and cultural cooperation.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 06 Nov 2014 13:39

Saurav Jha @SJha1618 · 12h 12 hours ago

Many big announcements are being readied for Putin's visit to India. It will become clear just how close India and Russia continue to be.