Pakistan signs an agreement with Russia for gas supply but no details have been made public.

On 13
October, Russian Deputy Minsiter met with Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi
Deputy Energy Minister said that
but no headway has been made on North-South gas pipeline project, Russian media
If Gazprom and Pakistani authorities

Pakistan signs a gas agreement with Russia on 13 October.

Russian delegation met with Prime Minietser Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

SLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday witnessed the signing of inter-
governmental agreement between Pakistan and Russia for supply of gas.

The government was focusing on meeting the country’s energy requirements with particular focus on a
balanced mix of energy resources, he said while warmly welcoming the Russian Deputy Minister of
Energy Yury P Sentyurin on his visit to Pakistan. He said that Pakistan–Russia cooperation in various
sectors is a step towards strengthening of bilateral relations. He said that the government is focusing on
meeting the country’s energy requirements with particular focus on a balanced mix of energy sources.

The prime minister appreciated the delegation’s fruitful interaction with the Ministry of Energy. He
expressed the hope that members of the Russian delegation will have a productive visit in the backdrop of
briefing by various ministries about immense potential for investment in Pakistan’s infrastructure
development, energy and communication sectors. He said that the economic outlook of Pakistan has
altogether changed in the last four years, which is being acknowledged globally.

Russia issuing Cryptorubble

debate on crypto currency
Russian Minister of Communication, Nikolay Nikiforov
https://www.engadget.com/2017/10/15/russia-hopes-to-launch-its-own-cryptocurrency/

Russia has been talking openly about the prospect of creating its own cryptocurrency, and it looks like the
country might turn those words into action. Local news outlets report that Communications Minister
Nikolay Nikiforov has confirmed plans to launch a state-controlled digital currency. Don't expect to
generate virtual rubles with your PC any time soon, though. While it would use blockchain to decentralize
control and improve trust, you reportedly can't mine it -- instead, it'd be issued and tracked like
conventional money. This would theoretically let Russia boost its internet economy without tying the fate
of its currency to other countries or third-party brokers.
You could readily exchange digital coins for conventional money, although officials would reportedly
require a proof of origin if you wanted to avoid a 13 percent tax meant to discourage money laundering
and other dirty tricks.

There's no mention of a time frame for launching this money, but Nikiforov apparently believes Russia
can't afford to wait. If it doesn't introduce its own currency, neighbors in Asia and Europe will make their
own move "after 2 months," he said. That's clearly hyperbolic, but there are reasons for Russia to be
nervous. China has been cracking down on cryptocurrency in part because it saw speculators selling off
the yuan in favor of bitcoins -- Russia probably doesn't want to see that happen on its own soil. Officials
have already called for tight regulations on existing virtual cash.

There are concerns that Russia would be effectively profiting from fraudsters with the 13 percent tax: hey,
we'll look the other way as long as you give us a cut. Short of an outright ban on competing currencies,
though, there would be nothing to stop criminals from simply relying on a different currency instead.
Rather, this would repeat a familiar strategy of keeping technology on a tight leash so that it can't be used
to undermine authority.

Denmark plans to block Nord Stream 2, Russia says it has alternative route

Denmark seeks to change law on pipelines amid Nord Stream 2 divisions

Reuters Staff
3 MIN READ


COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark’s government is proposing amending legislation to allow it to ban

pipeline projects on the grounds of foreign and security policy due to concerns raised by Russian efforts
to build a disputed gas pipeline through Danish waters.
The small Nordic country has been caught in a geopolitical conflict as Russian state gas exporter
Gazprom and its partners behind the Nord Stream 2 pipeline seek permission to pump more gas to Europe
via the Baltic Sea to Germany.
“We want to have the possibility to say yes or no from a perspective of security and foreign policy,” the
minister of energy and climate, Lars Christian Lilleholt, told Reuters, adding that it was currently only
possible to veto such projects on the grounds of environmental concerns.
The EU is divided between eastern European and Baltic Sea countries that see a new pipeline carrying
Russian gas across the Baltic making the EU a hostage to Moscow - and those in northern Europe, most
especially the main beneficiary Germany, for whom the economic benefits take priority.
Denmark and Sweden earlier this year requested that the European Commission intervene in Nord Stream
2 before the two states agree on permits for the pipeline to pass through their waters. EU diplomats said
there was little scope for either nation to block the plan.
The current regulatory framework does not allow Denmark to say “no” to the construction of transit
pipelines in territorial waters on the basis of foreign policy considerations, the ministry said in a
statement.
Lilleholt said the go-ahead for the pipeline was not a matter for Denmark alone.
“It is a question of establishing a very important pipeline from Russia to Europe, this is not only a
question for Denmark,” he said.
EU sources have said the Commission, sensing that there may ultimately be no legal basis to block
approval of Nord Stream 2, is delaying it as long as possible.
But last week, the EU said it was seeking a mandate from members to negotiate with Russia. Lilleholt
said he saw this as “very, very positive”.
Nord Stream 2 earlier this week officially delivered its application to Danish authorities which now has to
decide on permits for it to pass through Danish waters. This assessment will be made on the basis of
existing rules, the ministry said.
The Nord Stream 2 project has previously said it does not see it as a task for the European Commission
“to make a political judgment on whether investments are needed by the market or not”.
Denmark’s right-wing minority government would now negotiate with other parties to win support for the
proposal.
Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Ros Russell

Moscow to connect Kurdistan oil and gas pipeline with Black Sea
Kurdistan
Russian Minister: Moscow to connect Kurdistan’s oil, gas pipelines to Black Sea
Mewan Dolamari Mewan Dolamari | October 08-2017 01:40 PM Share share
Russian Minister: Moscow to connect Kurdistan’s oil, gas pipelines to Black Sea
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak during an interview with Kurdistan 24, October 8, 2017.
(Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Kurdistan Iraq Turkey Russia Moscow Oil and Gas Black Sea A+AA-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Russia would connect the Kurdistan Region’s oil and gas
pipelines to the Black Sea via Turkey, a Russian official said on Sunday.

Following the Sep. 25 Kurdistan independence referendum, shutting down the Kurdistan Region’s oil
exports through the crucial Cihan pipeline, which runs through Turkey, has been one of the most
substantial threats made in retaliation to the vote.

It has remained a hot topic as Ankara still threatens to block the pipeline, the semi-autonomous region of
Kurdistan's primary source of revenue, should Kurdish leaders refuse to reserve the vote's results.

“We will connect the Kurdistan Region’s oil and gas pipeline to the Black Sea,” Russian Energy Minister
Alexander Novak told Kurdistan 24.

The Kurdistan Region is rich in natural resources, namely oil and gas. The Region exports about 600,000
oil barrels per day via the Turkish port, making up over 90 percent of the Kurdistan Region’s total
revenue.

The Russian official's comment comes as the Kurdistan Region faces sanctions imposed by Baghdad in
retaliation to the Sep. 25 vote, such as the flight ban and attempts to close the Region's border crossings
with Iran and Turkey.

On October 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow was managing its relationship with
Iraq and the Kurdistan Region "with great care" given the escalation of tensions following the contentious
referendum.

Russia’s GDP growth exceeds 2 percent in third quarter: economy minister

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Growth in Russia’s gross domestic product exceeded 2 percent in the third quarter
of this year, according to an early estimate, Russian Economy Minister Maxim Oreshkin said on
Saturday, according to RIA news agency.
the bilateral trade between germany and Russia has increased to 25%this year
The trade turnover in 2016 amounted to $40.7 bln, direct accumulated investments made by German
companies in the Russian economy reached $18 bln," the Russian leader said at a meeting with German
businessmen.
According to him, "this year, bilateral trade grew by 25% and investments in the first quarter alone
amounted to $312 mln, while investments for the whole 2016 were $225 mln."
"More than 5,000 enterprises with the participation of German capital operate in Russia employing
270,000 Russian citizens. The turnover of those companies exceeds $50 bln," Putin said.
Russia and Germany continue economic cooperation despite existing challenges in the political area,
according to Putin.
"Despite all existing challenges in the political area the economic relations with the Federal Republic of
Germany are not fading away," the president said. Putin added that though "China has outpaced Germany
in terms of trade turnover with Russia, the latter still takes a significant share of Russia’s trade."

More:
http://tass.com/economy/970260