Viktor Khristenko

Infobox Officeholder
name = Viktor Khristenko Виктор Христенко


imagesize = 200px
nationality = Russian
order = Acting Prime Minister of Russia
term_start = February 24 2004
term_end = March 5 2004
predecessor = Mikhail Kasyanov
successor = Mikhail Fradkov
birth_date = birth date and age|1957|8|28
birth_place = Chelyabinsk, Russia
death_date =
death_place =
spouse = Tatiana Golikova
party =
president = Vladimir Putin

Viktor Borisovich Khristenko ( _ru. Ви́ктор Бори́сович Христе́нко; born August 28, 1957 in Chelyabinsk [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A3381-2004Feb24?language=printer Putin Fires Premier, Cabinet In Surprise Pre-Election Move] , "The Washington Post"] ) is the current Industry Minister (since March 9 2004). His wife Tatiana Golikova is the Minister of Health and Social Development (since September 2007).

Khristenko was the acting Prime Minister of Russia from February 24 to March 5 2004. [http://www.rulers.org/rulqr.html Russia from 1991: Prime Ministers] Rulers] Russian President Vladimir Putin fired Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov on February 24 2004. At the time, "The Washington Post" called Kasyanov "the most powerful ally of big business remaining in the Russian government." Khristenko, 46 at the time, was promoted from Deputy Prime Minister to acting Prime Minister. Putin commented that Kasyanov's ousting was not related to the results of the government's activities, which he characterized as positive, but rather was caused by a necessity to once again confirm his position, which would guide the development of the country after March 14 2004" [http://lenta.ru/russia/2004/02/24/start1/ Виктор Христенко приступил к исполнению обязанностей главы правительства] " ("Viktor Khristenko Becomes Acting Prime-Minister"), Lenta.ru, February 24 2004] . However, on March 1 2004 Putin nominated Mikhail Fradkov to become the next prime minister. Fradkov was confirmed by the Duma four days later. [http://www.rulers.org/2004-03.html March 2004, Russia] Rulers]

Nabucco pipeline

Khristenko told journalists in Sochi on September 27 2006 that the Government of Russia was considering participating in building the Nabucco Pipeline from Turkey to Austria through Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Khristenko said the government was "studying all projects, including Nabucco. But economics determine everything. If demand is high, then real routes will appear." Gazprom, the state-owned gas company of Russia, already plans to lengthen its Blue Stream pipeline, which runs from Russia to Turkey along the bottom of the Black Sea, to southern Europe and Israel. [http://www.interfax.com/3/197209/news.aspx Russia mulls participation in Nabucco gas pipeline construction] Interfax]

Kazakhstan gas deal

Khristenko and Baktykozha Izmukhambetov, the Energy and Mineral Resources' Minister of Kazakhstan, signed an intergovernmental agreement in a ceremony on October 3 2006 in Uralsk. The agreement created a joint venture to process gas from the Karachaganak field using the Orenburg gas processing plant. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev were present during the signing. On October 2 2006 Putin called the deal "a serious agreement involving Kazakhstan and Russia in the solution of the energy problems of key partners, including those in Western Europe" when he and President Nazarbayev promoted the deal to a forum of officials representing border regions. Nazarbayev told the forum that "Russia and Kazakhstan will be co-managers and co-owners. The question of the price of the gas from the field has also been decided." Nazarbayev did not announce the price, but said the Government of Kazakhstan would invest USD $2 billion in a gas-processing facility. The Karachaganak field is believed to have five billion barrels of oil. [http://www.interfax.com/5/199018/news.aspx Russia, Kazakhstan set up joint venture to process Kazakh gas] , Interfax]

Russia-Romania gas project

On September 27, 2006, Khristenko and Codruţ Şereş, the Romanian Minister of Economy and Commerce, discussed the possibility of having Gazprom create a natural gas storage center in Neamţ County, Romania. Research on the practicality of the project is now being conducted. Şereş asked Khristenko to respond to the "memorandum regarding the gas storage Roman–Mărgineni," during a meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation at the Black Sea, held between September 26 and 27 in Sochi, Russia, according to an OCEMN communiqué. The project will cost between EUR $120–260 million. The storing capacity will be between 600 million and two billion cubic metres. Seres also said that the Nabucco Pipeline was a priority for the Romanian Government. [http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii&categorie=business&id=20060929-508198 Romania to modify the economic treaties with Russia after EU accession] , Nine O'Clock]

References

External links

* [http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20060929/54426625.html "Gas price issue splits Russian government"]
* [http://www.interfax.com/3/197187/news.aspx "Some Shtokman gas may be sold to Europe - minister"]
* [http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20060927195826.shtml "Russia to set up gas exchange by November"]
* [http://en.rian.ru/business/20060623/49938627.html "Russia Minister Khristenko hopeful on Severstal-Arcelor merger"]