TUZLA, Bosnia (July 7,2008) - Drive three hours north from the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, through the sweeping hills and valleys of central Bosnia and you arrive in the city of Tuzla.It is a pretty enough place with its elegantly dressed people and numerous cafes, but this place could be about to undergo a remarkable transformation.
The talk here is about oil. Not just the prices which are affecting everyone but supplies, deep underground.
On the edge of the city, where the cornfields lie, it is easy to find traces of the exploration carried out here. Twenty bore holes were drilled into the ground to find out what lies beneath. And now the oil bubbles to the surface on its own, leaking out of the holes, scarring the surface nearby.
Professor Hazim Hrvatovic is Bosnia's most senior geologist. He has looked at the results from the drilling in the thirties and at the surveys carried out by a British firm in the 1980s.
"From all we've read and all we've seen there may be around 400 million barrels of oil here. It will take money to extract and develop which is why we need a partner to help us.
"But there is enough oil here to supply our demands for the next twenty years and maybe more. This could transform our economy," he says.
The area needs so much though - roads and other transport links to move the oil, somewhere to process it and somewhere to store it. With oil hitting $130 a barrel, it is suddenly financially viable to do all of this.
But drilling for oil is a risky business. No one wants to spend the millions of dollars it takes to drill just one hole only to come up dry. Bosnia needs outside help.
Ibrahim Bosto is a senior figure with Bosnia's main energy company Energoinvest, which is 67 per cent owned by the government. In his office, we look over geological maps of the area. There are four places around the country which have been identified as of potential interest.
Energoinvest, carried out a research which proved the existence of oil pools in the northern region of Posavina, as well as in several locations in the south.
Energoinvest has the original report which indicates that Bosnia may have oil resources as big as Saudi Arabia or Iraq.
"The only solution at the moment is to find a strategic partner, who is ready to invest in this works, to co-operate with us and to reap the rewards of what may be there," Bosto says.
According to several Bosnian experts, British Petroleum, BP and American Oil Company, AMOCO, now also part of BP, were interested in potential oil resources in Bosnia before the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.
Video: Bosnia poised for oil find - Al Jazeera
In Tuzla, the idea of transforming this place into the oil capital of the southeastern Europe excites the locals.
In an area of high unemployment, they see the benefits. Stop anyone on the street and they know about the stories of oil.
One woman said: "Oil could be the sign of wealth and development growth for our whole society, and maybe it's a big chance for employment for the young people because at the moment they don't have jobs."
The government has watched the oil price rise steadily. And now it knows the country could be on the verge of a bonanza.
Vahid Heco, the FBIH Entity Minister of Energy, Mining, & Industry, is optimistic.
"The potential in raw oil and natural gas that exists here would transform the whole economic situation in Bosnia and I assume we would become a centre for energy development in the southeastern Europe," he said.
But for the moment, all there is is oil bubbling slowly to the surface. So the people must wait to see if the experts are right and deep underground, there lies enough oil to transform this country and its struggling economy.
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Showing posts with label tuzla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tuzla. Show all posts
Monday, July 7, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
SHELL OIL COMPANY INTERESTED IN BOSNIA'S OIL DEPOSITS
TUZLA, Bosnia (July 3,2008) - The Tuzla Canton PM Enes Mujic was host to a delegation of specialist consultant companies from the UK and Canada. The companies are carrying out an oil market research on behalf of the Shell Oil Company. The Tuzla University is also involved in this research.
The purpose of this visit was to obtain the basic information about Bosnia’s oil potential. Mujic said that regional government would give full support to this research project, especially in the light of demand for petroleum of the local chemical industry. The Canton is also rich in coal and salt.
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world.
Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Mining in the northern Bosnian town of Tuzla, Abdulah Basic, told Bosnian media recently that some 500 million tonnes of oil could be located in several locations in northern Bosnia as well as further in southern Bosnia at the depth of between 4,000 and 6,000 metres.
One of the biggest Bosnian construction firms, Energoinvest, carried out a research which proved the existence of oil pools in the northern region of Posavina, as well as in several locations in the south.
Basic says that Energoinvest has the original report which indicates that Bosnia may have oil resources as big as Saudi Arabia or Iraq.
According to several Bosnian experts, British Petroleum, BP and American Oil Company, AMOCO, now also part of BP, were interested in potential oil resources in Bosnia before the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.
Yet,after the end of the war, neither the Bosnian government nor international companies showed interest to continue with the research. However this is changing now with the recent skyrocketing of oil prices on global markets.
“First barrels of oil from Bosnia could be excavated as soon as the next 15 years, under the condition that local governments start showing an interest in this,” Basic stated.
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The purpose of this visit was to obtain the basic information about Bosnia’s oil potential. Mujic said that regional government would give full support to this research project, especially in the light of demand for petroleum of the local chemical industry. The Canton is also rich in coal and salt.
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world.
Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Mining in the northern Bosnian town of Tuzla, Abdulah Basic, told Bosnian media recently that some 500 million tonnes of oil could be located in several locations in northern Bosnia as well as further in southern Bosnia at the depth of between 4,000 and 6,000 metres.
One of the biggest Bosnian construction firms, Energoinvest, carried out a research which proved the existence of oil pools in the northern region of Posavina, as well as in several locations in the south.
Basic says that Energoinvest has the original report which indicates that Bosnia may have oil resources as big as Saudi Arabia or Iraq.
According to several Bosnian experts, British Petroleum, BP and American Oil Company, AMOCO, now also part of BP, were interested in potential oil resources in Bosnia before the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.
Yet,after the end of the war, neither the Bosnian government nor international companies showed interest to continue with the research. However this is changing now with the recent skyrocketing of oil prices on global markets.
“First barrels of oil from Bosnia could be excavated as soon as the next 15 years, under the condition that local governments start showing an interest in this,” Basic stated.
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Saturday, March 8, 2008
EUFOR HANDS OVER RESPONSIBILTY FOR WEAPON STORAGE SITES TO BOSNIAN ARMY
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 8,2008) – The Commander of the Bosnian Armed Forces General Sifet Podzic and the Commander of the European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR),General Ignacio Villalaín attended a ceremony at Rajlovac Barracks of handing over the responsibility of Weapon Storage Sites from EUFOR to the Bosnian Army.The Bosnian Minister of Defence, Selmo Cikotic also attended the ceremony.A Letter of Understanding was signed by both the EUFOR Commander and the Commander of the Bosnian Army.General Villalain stated that this event marks another step forward in successful implementation of the Bosnian defence reform.
He added that EUFOR Verification Unit and Internal Team for Bosnian Armed Forces’ Inspection Team conducted a program of joint inspections of weapons storages from September 2007.
General Villalain stated that the joint inspections conducted all the activities professionally and that all the results have been stored to a database which is available for public.
He emphasized that the Bosnian Army gained the International Community’s respect and added that the EUFOR is now able to transfer a significant part of jurisdiction onto them.
General Podzic said that he hopes that the Bosnian Army will soon take over jurisdiction over other sectors in order to create conditions to “say goodbye to our EUFOR friends and ask them to visit Bosnia as tourists”.
The Bosnian Deputy Defence Minister Igor Crnadak stated that the event is of an enormous significance for Bosnia, for it is a proof that the defence reform has been implemented successfully.
This week, EUFOR and the Bosnian Armed Forces were conducting joint military training at Comanche military base, near the eastern bosnian city of Tuzla.The Hungarian Company and a Platoon of the Bosnian Army soldiers have been learning to work together on operations that include Crowd Riot Control techniques and the rapid extraction of personnel from buildings under threat.
This training is seen to be very significant for both the EUFOR and the Bosnian Army. Earlier in January the Bosnian Armed Forces stated that 2008 would be a year of training and the results of this statement are now being seen.
This exercise tested the capability of both EUFOR and the Bosnian Army.The personnel involved were mainly infantry based and the training enhanced their operational capabilities,the EUFOR stated.
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Thursday, February 28, 2008
TRIAL OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL NOVAK DJUKIC TO BEGIN ON MARCH 11
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 28,2008) – Trial in the case against Serbian war criminal Novak Djukic, accused of war crimes against Bosnian civilians will begin on March 11, the Bosnian State court announced on Tuesday at the status conference.
The Bosnian state Prosecutor's Office alleges that, during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia, on May 25, 1995, in the capacity of Commander of the genocidal paramilitary formations of the Serbians living in Bosnia (VRS), Serbian war criminal Novak Djukic ordered the genocidal Serbian aggressor's soldiers, located on Cerovo Brdo, Vrbak village at the mountain of Ozren, to fire a missile at a location in the centre of the eastern Bosnian city of Tuzla known as „Tuzlanska Kapija.“
As a result of the explosion of the missile, 71 Bosnian civilians were killed while 240 sustained injuries.Tuzla was declared a safe zone by a Resolution of the United Nations Secutiy Council issued on May 6, 1993.
Serbian war criminal Novak Djukic was arrested last year in the northern Bosnian city of Banja Luka by the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency’s (SIPA).
Indictment against Serbian war criminal was raised on December 27,2007. It was confirmed bythe Bosnian State Court on January 4,2008.
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The Bosnian state Prosecutor's Office alleges that, during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia, on May 25, 1995, in the capacity of Commander of the genocidal paramilitary formations of the Serbians living in Bosnia (VRS), Serbian war criminal Novak Djukic ordered the genocidal Serbian aggressor's soldiers, located on Cerovo Brdo, Vrbak village at the mountain of Ozren, to fire a missile at a location in the centre of the eastern Bosnian city of Tuzla known as „Tuzlanska Kapija.“
As a result of the explosion of the missile, 71 Bosnian civilians were killed while 240 sustained injuries.Tuzla was declared a safe zone by a Resolution of the United Nations Secutiy Council issued on May 6, 1993.
Serbian war criminal Novak Djukic was arrested last year in the northern Bosnian city of Banja Luka by the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency’s (SIPA).
Indictment against Serbian war criminal was raised on December 27,2007. It was confirmed bythe Bosnian State Court on January 4,2008.
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Friday, February 22, 2008
HEAD OF EUPM TO VISIT TUZLA TODAY
TUZLA, Bosnia (February 22,2008) – In scope of his regular visits to Bosnian police counterparts and EU Police Mission’s offices across Bosnia, Brigadier General Vincenzo Coppola, Head of the EU Police Mission to Bosnia, will pay a visit to Tuzla today.
During his visit, General Coppola will meet with the Minister of Interior of the Tuzla Canton, Sead Omerbegovic, Police Commissioner Nedim Mutapcic, and the EU Police Mission personnel in Tuzla.
General Coppola will use the opportunity to discuss the current state of affairs in the Ministry and police activities in Tuzla Canton as well as their cooperation with the EU Police Mission and other law enforcement agencies.
All media are cordially invited to attend a press opportunity which will take place today, Friday, 22 February 2008 at 12.30 hrs at the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Interior’s premises, Turalibegova bb, Tuzla.
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During his visit, General Coppola will meet with the Minister of Interior of the Tuzla Canton, Sead Omerbegovic, Police Commissioner Nedim Mutapcic, and the EU Police Mission personnel in Tuzla.
General Coppola will use the opportunity to discuss the current state of affairs in the Ministry and police activities in Tuzla Canton as well as their cooperation with the EU Police Mission and other law enforcement agencies.
All media are cordially invited to attend a press opportunity which will take place today, Friday, 22 February 2008 at 12.30 hrs at the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Interior’s premises, Turalibegova bb, Tuzla.
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Monday, January 28, 2008
OHR SUPPORTS RESOLUTION OF JURIŠIĆ CASE
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 28,2008) - The Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) representatives met with representatives of the Tuzla Municipal Council to discuss recent developments in the Ilija Jurišić case.Ilija Jurišić is a Bosnian patriot who participated in defending the Bosnian city of Tuzla from the Serbian aggressor,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggresion against Bosnia.Jurišić has been arrested by the Serbian aggressor and has been in a prison in Belgrade since 11 May 2007.
In May 1992,the genocidal Serbian aggressor's troops came under attack by the Bosnian Army as they were withdrawing from the eastern Bosnian city of Tuzla and up to 200 Serbian aggressor's soldiers were reportedly killed and 140 of them were taken prisoners by the Bosnian Army.
Former Tuzla Municipal Council President Ilija Jurišić is currently in custody in the genocidal Serbia in connection to this event.
Bosnia and and the genocidal Serbia are parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. This convention offers technical mechanisms for resolving cases such as that of Bosnian citizen Ilija Jurišić. The Bosnian Ministry of Justice is the competent body to deal with international legal assistance, the OHR said.
The OHR has followed the case from the start and will continue to monitor developments. The OHR stands ready to facilitate a resolution to the Ilija Jurišić case within the framework of the above mentioned Conventions, if so requested by either party.
Friday, January 25, 2008
SDP PARTY URGES BOSNIAN MINISTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEES TO RESIGN
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 25,2008) – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) delegate at the Bosnian Parliament's House of Representatives and a member of the Commission for Human Rights, Rights of Children, Youth, Immigration, Refugees, Asylum and Ethics Denis Becirovic, sent an open letter yesterday to the Bosnian Minister of Human Rights and Refugees Safet Halilovic, asking him to resign, for, as stated, non-efficiency in the protection of human rights of the Bosnian citizen Ilija Jurisic.
”As a delegate at the Bosnian Parliament's House of Representatives, I asked several questions to Bosnian state institutions, related to the arrest of Ilija Jurisic at the Belgrade airport, May 11 2007, for I am of the opinion that the arrest is illegal”, Becirovic stated and added that this event has no precedent in international relations and international legal assistance.
He emphasized that the event is also painting a picture of internal relations in Bosnia, as well as the relation between our country and its neighbours, or between Bosnia and any other country on the planet Earth. Other countries’ can, apparently, arrest Bosnian citizens “the way they want to”, for they have no protection whatsoever.
Becirovic stated that everyone should bear individual responsibility for the actions he or she could have taken but did not.
”As the Bosnian Minister of Human Rights and Refugees, you were obliged to insist on full respect of international standards from the sector of human rights and liberties. Instead of doing so, you seem to have “slept over” the past eight months of Ilija Jurisic’s struggle for human rights”, the letter states.
Becirovic reminded Halilovic that he, as delegate, asked him a question on all the past activities taken in the process of releasing Ilija Jurisic. He also asked Minister Halilovic to state whether or not he has visited Ilija Jurisic.
The letter also states: “Also, in your opinion, ‘the very fact that a person is held in detention is not the reason enough to trigger a reaction on the basis of the international standards you mentioned’”.
”I am writing you this, for I am disappointed with a fact I have heard in Belgrade recently – you have visited Ilija Jurisic not a single time for all the eight months of his imprisonment. You have not even formed a delegation on behalf of your ministry to visit our citizen”, the letter states.
"Minister, keeping in mind the fact that you have done nothing in eight months to efficiently and concretely protect and help Ilija Jurisic, I hereby call you to make the only moral act possible – irrevocably resign," the letter Becirevic sent to the Bosnian Human Rights and Refugees Minister Safet Halilovic states.
Ilija Jurišić is a Bosnian patriot who participated in defending the Bosnian city of Tuzla from the Serbian aggressor,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggresion against Bosnia.Jurišić has been arrested by the Serbian aggressor and has been in a prison in Belgrade since 11 May 2007.
”As a delegate at the Bosnian Parliament's House of Representatives, I asked several questions to Bosnian state institutions, related to the arrest of Ilija Jurisic at the Belgrade airport, May 11 2007, for I am of the opinion that the arrest is illegal”, Becirovic stated and added that this event has no precedent in international relations and international legal assistance.
He emphasized that the event is also painting a picture of internal relations in Bosnia, as well as the relation between our country and its neighbours, or between Bosnia and any other country on the planet Earth. Other countries’ can, apparently, arrest Bosnian citizens “the way they want to”, for they have no protection whatsoever.
Becirovic stated that everyone should bear individual responsibility for the actions he or she could have taken but did not.
”As the Bosnian Minister of Human Rights and Refugees, you were obliged to insist on full respect of international standards from the sector of human rights and liberties. Instead of doing so, you seem to have “slept over” the past eight months of Ilija Jurisic’s struggle for human rights”, the letter states.
Becirovic reminded Halilovic that he, as delegate, asked him a question on all the past activities taken in the process of releasing Ilija Jurisic. He also asked Minister Halilovic to state whether or not he has visited Ilija Jurisic.
The letter also states: “Also, in your opinion, ‘the very fact that a person is held in detention is not the reason enough to trigger a reaction on the basis of the international standards you mentioned’”.
”I am writing you this, for I am disappointed with a fact I have heard in Belgrade recently – you have visited Ilija Jurisic not a single time for all the eight months of his imprisonment. You have not even formed a delegation on behalf of your ministry to visit our citizen”, the letter states.
"Minister, keeping in mind the fact that you have done nothing in eight months to efficiently and concretely protect and help Ilija Jurisic, I hereby call you to make the only moral act possible – irrevocably resign," the letter Becirevic sent to the Bosnian Human Rights and Refugees Minister Safet Halilovic states.
Ilija Jurišić is a Bosnian patriot who participated in defending the Bosnian city of Tuzla from the Serbian aggressor,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggresion against Bosnia.Jurišić has been arrested by the Serbian aggressor and has been in a prison in Belgrade since 11 May 2007.
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