Russia in Latin America

Rosneft Clinches Exploration Deal in Amazon Basin

Russia's largest energy producer has signed a deal with the Brazilian company PetroRio to operate the exploration of sites in the Amazon's Solimoes Basin.

Rosneft, the world's largest publicly-traded petroleum company, has raised its stake in an oil and gas prospecting venture in the Brazilian Amazon to 100 percent, giving it complete control over two onshore gas and oil leases in the Solimoes Basin of the Amazon River.

The Russian company increased its stake after agreeing to a deal with Brazilian oil producer PetroRio, also known as HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA.

Rosneft acquired its 45 percent stake in the Solimoes project after its takeover of the oil company TNK-BP in 2011, which made it the world's largest oil producer.

In November 2013, Rosneft Brazil and PetroRio made an agreement for Rosneft to obtain an additional six percent in the Solimoes project, raising its stake to 51 percent and giving it the status of operator of the project.

The deal was finally approved by Brazil's National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels in July of last year. According to the July announcement from Rosneft, the transaction amounted to $96 million, with Rosneft also acquiring four heli-transportable rigs from the Brazilian company. In addition, Rosneft provided PetroRio with a loan facility of up to $40 million to finance HRT investments inSolimoes for a period of 12 months.

"The Solimoes project establishes Rosneft in Brazil, a country with major upstream growth opportunities and synergies with Rosneft operations in Venezuela," Rosneft stated.

According to media reports, the latest deal between the two companies is due to be announced on Monday and is valued at $55 million.

Rosneft reports that the resources of the Solimoes project consist of 34 million tons of oil and 73 billion cubic meters of gas, according to the project's prospecting works, which have been carried out over an area of 44.5 thousand square kilometers in the basin to date. The company says that 75 percent of the basin's area remains untapped, with the potential for extracting 100 million tons of oil equivalent exist, while gas reserves of 28-37 billion cubic meters have been confirmed.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/latam/20150517/1022236584.html#ixzz3aOgMJnT1

Bolivia Set to Sign Cooperation Deal With Russia's Rosatom

On Friday, Bolivian Hydrocarbons and Energy Minister Luis Alberto Sanchez announced plans to visit Russia later this month to sign a cooperation agreement with Russian state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, RIA Novosti reports.

Set to visit the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which runs from June 18-20, Sanchez stated that he was "invited to propose the possibilities for doing business in Bolivia. In addition, we will sign an agreement, a memorandum with Rosatom."

According to Sanchez, in addition to electricity, Bolivia is interested in using nuclear technology in the fields of industry, medicine, and science. By 2020, the Andean nation has plans to create its first research reactor.

Bolivian President Evo Morales voiced his country's intention to launch a peaceful nuclear program in 2014, committing to invest $2 billion for the program by 2025. Bolivia has already presented its proposals to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and signed a cooperation agreement on peaceful nuclear energy use with neighboring Argentina.

Rosatom, a state-owned monopoly corporation established in 2007, is charged with the regulation of all nuclear assets in Russia, and is also responsible for the provision of nuclear technology, fuel, and other materials and services for peaceful purposes to dozens of nations. Russia is presently involved in the construction of over a third of all nuclear reactors worldwide.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/latam/20150607/1023056275.html#ixzz3ceb4Nmmp

Russia to Increase Delivery of Wheat to Nicaragua Sixfold

The agreement between the two countries for Russia to deliver 160 thousand tonnes of wheat also lays the foundations for further export and promotion of Russian agricultural produce to Nicaragua.

Russia and Nicaragua signed a deal on Thursday to supply the Nicaraguan market with 160 thousand tonnes of Russian wheat, announced Russia's United Grain Company in a statement.

"The agreement is for the supply of 160 thousand tonnes of Russian wheat to Nicaragua. The parties are also exploring the possibility of regular exports of grain from Russia to the Nicaraguan market," stated the UGC, a state-owned company and one of the top five Russian exporters of grain.

Russia was the world's fifth highest wheat exporter in 2014, and exported 22.1 million tonnes of wheat, an increase of 60.5 percent on the previous year and making Russia the third fastest growing exporter after India and Bulgaria.

The agreement was announced by the company in the course of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, currently taking place from 18 — 20 June.

As well as Nicaragua, other nations with a delegation at the forum include China, Japan, India, Finland and Turkey.

On the eve of the conference on Wednesday, the event organizers said that in addition to international delegations, 843 foreign representatives of 450 companies had confirmed their attendance at the forum, where Russia expects to sign around 70 agreements with government and commercial representatives.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/business/20150618/1023529390.html#ixzz3dQ8umcfy

Nicaragua to Host Russian GPS-Equivalent Ground Stations

The Nicaraguan Institute for Telecommunications (Telcor) has signed an agreement with Russia on the construction of Russian Glonass satellite navigation network ground stations in Nicaragua, El Nuevo Diario reports.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The stations are expected to become operational by July 2016, the Nicaraguan newspaper said on Thursday. Initially, the work of the Glonass stations will be handled by Russian specialists and will then be gradually passed on to Nicaraguan workers as they finish their training.

The stations will allow to gather satellite information 24 hours a day.

In April, Nicaragua's National Assembly ratified a cooperation agreement with Russia on the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

The agreement aimed to enable Russia to deploy stations for its Glonass satellite navigation system in Nicaragua.

The Glonass project, which was launched in 1993, is considered to be Russia's answer to the American GPS (Global Positioning System).

The Glonass network currently consists of 28 satellites, allowing real-time positioning and speed data for surface, sea and airborne objects around the globe.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/science/20150821/1026003417.html#ixzz3jWceEOKA

Bolivia to Build $300Mln Nuclear Research Center Using Russian Technology

Bolivia will construct in the next four years a $300-million nuclear research center using Russian technology, President Evo Morales said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier this month, Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom and the Bolivian Hydrocarbon and Energy Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

"This center will cost approximately $300 million, the completion of construction is envisaged in four years’ time, it will be [created] with technology from Russia and with participation of several South American countries, such as Argentina," Morales said at a press conference Thursday, as quoted by the Correo Del Sur newspaper.

The center will be constructed in the city of El Alto, and will include a nuclear research reactor.

"The construction and the implementation of this center will allow our country to make a leap in the scientific and technological spheres," the president added.

Last May, Morales announced that his country was working on development of the nuclear energy industry in the country with support of Argentina.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/science/20151030/1029317149/Bolivia-nuclear-research-center.html#ixzz3q1v4vA2J

Russian flu vaccine to be produced in Nicaragua

The project of a plant is estimated at about $20 million, of which $14 million will come from the Russian budget, while the rest from the Nicaraguan

MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. A plant producing Russian flu vaccines will be built in Nicaragua before October 2016, Russian Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova told a news conference on Wednesday.

"This is a major project for our country. We are organizing a joint enterprise to produce medicinal immunological drugs, vaccines, and we begin with a vaccine against seasonal flu," Skvortsova said.

She said the design and estimate documentation was fully ready and the foundation stone had been laid. "It is important that we have registered our Russian vaccine in Nicaragua and obtained a certificate for it," the minister noted.

The project is estimated at about $20 million, of which $14 million will come from the Russian budget, while the rest from the Nicaraguan, she said.

The project would be repaid, she noted, saying the country would get the money back within quite a short period of time.

Gazprom CEO Signs Energy Cooperation Agreements With Bolivia

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/business/20160219/1035006531/gazprom-energy-cooperation-bolivia.html#ixzz40b0ncbKT

6. Departing Russian envoy marks new initiatives; remembers past aid

Nicaragua will construct four satellite ground stations for Russia’s equivalent of the US global positioning system (GPS). The stations in Nicaragua will control four of the 25 satellites making up the system. Construction, which will be completed in May and June, was approved last year by the National Assembly allowing satellite tracking stations that are for civilian use. The facilities will be located near kilometer 7 on the South Highway.

During a ceremony in which he was awarded the Jose de Marcoleta medal, Great Cross grade, Russian Ambassador Nikolay Vladmir announced that in March Russia would begin delivering civilian airliners for the establishment of a Nicaraguan national airline. Among other benefits, the airline would increase Russian tourism to Nicaragua. The Russian aid, which he did not put a value on, will also include improvements to the Augusto C. Sandino international airport. The retiring ambassador noted that Nicaragua did not buy fighter jets during his tenure, only civilian aircraft. “There is no job for them (fighters) here,” he said. He also stated that Russia has no plans to request a military base on Nicaraguan soil “at the moment.” He said Russia only needs docking space for resupply of food and other necessities for vessels whose sailors have been at sea “for four months or more.”

Both Ambassador Vladimir and Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos praised the high level of Russian-Nicaraguan relations and cooperation. Vladimir noted, “We are building a laboratory to make vaccines for diseases like dengue, chikungunya and zika.” He also recalled Russia’s donation of 300 tons of wheat in the early years of President Daniel Ortega’s second administration as well as public transportation buses, nearly 50 modern fire trucks, and six tent hospitals. He also mentioned the construction in Managua of a “modern military training facility” for military and police that has already received students from ten countries in the region for training to combat organized crime. Finally, he mentioned the US$28 million Russia has spent on equipment and technical upgrades to improve Nicaragua’s ability to prevent and mitigate natural disasters. (El Nuevo Diario, Feb. 9)

http://www.nicanet.org/?page=blog&id=34172

Production of Russian flu vaccines in Nicaragua may start on October 22

The decision to build a biomedical immune-biological facility was made in the framework of the Russian-Nicaraguan inter-governmental commission

MANAGUA, October 22. /TASS/. The first Russian plant on vaccine production will open in Nicaragua on October 22, and production of vaccines may be launched right away as all lines are ready, Russian Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova told reporters on Saturday.

"We came to solemnly open it. It may be launched right away - all lines are ready," Skvortsova said.

She also reminded that the decision to build a biomedical immune-biological facility was made in the framework of the Russian-Nicaraguan inter-governmental commission. The first stone was laid a year ago.

"Precisely a year ago, on 21 October 2015, we laid the first stone at the spot where biomedical biotechnological production of seasonal flu vaccines was to start," Veronika Skvortsova noted.
The capacity of the Russian plant

The capacity of the Russian plant to produce seasonal flu vaccines, due to be open on Sunday, is 30 million doses a year, Russia’s Healthcare Minister told reporters.

"The first capacity of this plant is 30 million doses a year, while Nicaragua’s demand is about one million doses," she said. "The remaining 29 million will be for the countries of Central and Latin America."

The output capacity of the Russian plant to produce seasonal flu vaccines may be increased by five times if required, she said.

In 2013, the Russia-Nicaragua intergovernmental commission agreed to build the bio medical immune biology facility. Presidents of the countries supported the decision. The plant will be opened on October 22.


More:
http://tass.com/society/908104?_ga=1.54776043.1337049799.1447427261

Putin says it is possible to expand military cooperation with Bolivia

The range of Russian goods supplied to Bolivia can also be broadened, the Russian leader said

MOSCOW, June 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin considers it possible to broaden interaction with Bolivia in the military-technical sphere and in natural gas production.

"We are discussing opportunities of broadening interaction in the military-technical sphere," Putin said at the meeting with President of Bolivia Evo Morales.

The Russian President also noted operations of the national gas company Gazprom on two fields in Bolivia. "Production amounts to 2.5 bln cubic meters of gas; the issue of production expansion that can be increased twofold is currently considered," Putin said.

The range of Russian goods supplied to Bolivia can also be broadened, the Russian leader said. "We are supplying automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and there is an opportunity to expand this range," he said.

"Our relations are developing and we will record all areas of our interaction in a joint declaration today," Putin added.


More:
http://tass.com/politics/1009347

Agreement on the possibility of supplying aircraft SSJ100 and MS-21 tο Peruvian Airlines

As the newspaper Kommersant writes in Polina Khrestyukhina's article "SSJ100 and МС-21 are looking for a way to Peru, the GSS plans to supply 20 aircraft to Peruvian Airlines", the manufacturer of SSJ100 aircraft "Sukhoi Civil Aircraft" is trying to gain a foothold in the Latin American market. At the opening air show in British Farnborough, the company signed an agreement with Peruvian Airlines on the delivery of 20 aircraft SSJ100 and MS-21. While the only major operating contract with a foreign airline remains an agreement with the Mexican InterJet.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3273217.html

Russia, Bolivia sign documents on energy cooperation, public security

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Evo Morales signed a joint statement on boosting coordination on the international stage

MOSCOW, July 11. /TASS/. Russia and Bolivia have signed a number of documents following talks between the two countries presidents, Vladimir Putin and Evo Morales.

In particular, Acron Group Board of Directors Chairman Alexander Popov and Bolivian Hydrocarbons Minister Luis Alberto Sanchez signed a document on commercial cooperation between Acron Group, Bolivia’s IPFB company and the Ministry of Hydrocarbons.


Chief of Russia’s technological and nuclear watchdog Rostekhnadzor Alexei Aleshin and Executive Director of Bolivia’s electricity watchdog Daniel Alejandro Rocabado Pastrana signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in the field of nuclear and radiation security in relation to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Bolivian Energy Minister Rafael Alarcon Orihuela signed a document on cooperation in the lithium industry.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and his Bolivian counterpart Rafael Alarcon Orihuela, in turn, signed a memorandum of understanding in the energy sector.

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and Bolivia’s top diplomat Diego Pary Rodriguez made an agreement on cooperation between the two ministries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Bolivian counterpart signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries’ diplomatic academies and a memorandum of understanding on public security consultations between the Russian Security Council and the Bolivian government.

On top of all, Putin and Morales signed a joint statement on boosting coordination on the international stage.

https://tass.com/politics/1068168

Revenge of pro-Russian forces: why the US is losing weight in Central [& South] America
https://regnum.ru/news/polit/2745861.html

Tsavo Lion wrote:Revenge of pro-Russian forces: why the US is losing weight in Central [& south] America
https://regnum.ru/news/polit/2745861.html

I think that it is poetic justice that Deniel Ortega is head of Nicaragua after 40 years and the US instigated, funded and
supplied terrorist insurgency of the death squad maggots known that the "Contras". After these vermin ceased their
terrorism they had to settle down in an isolated corner of Nicaragua since they were not tolerated by Nicaraguans.
All the US bleating about human rights and the war against communism to install democracy has always been a Big Lie.
The US loves its death squad juntas and assorted nazi types like the ones who took over in Ukraine in 2014.

I can see the tendentious slant about "Russian meddling" in this piece, but it is the Latin Americans themselves who
are sick of bloody US meddling.

Cuba again followed the path of the USSR
https://vz.ru/world/2019/10/11/1002390.print.html

I guess they'll pay Russia with their oil & earnings from tourism.

Besides Cuba and Venezuela, are any Latin American countries hostile to the United States and friendly with Russia?

It's also worth noting that both Cuba and Venezuela refuse to recognize Israel despite having absolutely nothing to do with it.

Moose wrote:Besides Cuba and Venezuela, are any Latin American countries hostile to the United States and friendly with Russia?

It's also worth noting that both Cuba and Venezuela refuse to recognize Israel despite having absolutely nothing to do with it.

Bolivia, now that the coup has been reversed
Fernandes in Argentina leans to an anti-American stance; supporting Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela
And even Mexico has been conducting its own sly policy. Remember it was Mexico that took in Moralez after he was deposed from Bolivia. It has also increased co-operation with Cuba and with Maduro in Venezuela

So we can gradually see a Latin-American sovereigntist bloc forming. Not necessarily anti-American, but in practice exactly such as that's where their problems come from. All these leaders, and now Castillo in Peru is part of them, view US attempts at new colour revolutions and coups in Latin America with disapproval and move to counter-act them. And they are now the dominant force in Central and South America. It is Columbia and Brazil that are the outsiders.