quinta-feira, 29 de janeiro de 2009

Repsol says finds 3 new gas fields in Algeria


(Adds spokesman comment, details, Goldman Sachs downgrade, share reaction)

MADRID, Spain's Repsol (REP.MC: Quote) said on Monday it had found three new gas fields in Algeria that could produce 1 million cubic metres a day, but its shares failed to sparkle after Goldman Sachs cut its price target for the firm.

The three discoveries together are equivalent to 1 percent of Spain's gas needs, Repsol said, the most important of which is in the Reggane basin which showed flows of 629,000 cubic metres a day.

"We are optimistic because the flows are very good. They indicate there is great potential there," said Repsol spokesman Christian Rix.

Repsol has a 33.75 percent share in the Reggane bloc (KLS-1), while state-owned producer Sonatrach holds 25 percent, Germany's RWE Dea (RWEG.DE: Quote) 22.5 percent and Italy's Edison 18.75 percent.

Repsol shares were held in check by news that Goldman Sachs was cutting its price target by 2 euros to 21 euros, and fears over the nationalisation of assets in Libya [ID:nLN485321] and Bolivia, which seized control of a BP (BP.L: Quote) controlled producer on Friday [ID:nN23307550].

"If it wasn't for Goldman's downgrade, and the fear of nationalisation of oil assets in countries where Repsol operates like Libya and Bolivia, the company would be surging on the gas strike news," a dealer at a leading Spanish bank said.

Shares in the company were 1.6 percent higher at 13.99 euros by 1145 GMT, in line with the DJ European Oil and Gas index and Spain's blue-chip Ibex-35 index.

Repsol said the new wells confirmed the importance of Reggane in its strategic growth plans. Turning discoveries into producing fields normally takes three to five years.

The same consortium has also discovered a second field at the nearby Ahnet basin, with flows of 249,000 cubic metres a day at 1.28 km below the surface and 110,000 cubic metres at 1.34 km down.

Repsol and its partners have discovered a third field at Gassi Ghergui, with initial data showing flows of 158,000 cubic metres a day. It has a 45 percent share of that consortium, with Spain's Gas Natural owning 30 percent and Sonatrach 25 percent.

Repsol operates all the wells. (Reporting by Jonathan Gleave and Ben Harding, Editing by Peter Blackburn)

Repsol makes gas discoveries in Algeria's Sahara desert


Rapsol, a Spanish oil and gas company has announced three new discoveries in the Reggane, the Ahnet and the Berkine Basins in the Sahara desert in Algeria with a potential of 813 million cubic feet of net reserves.

According to the company’s statement published on its website, the initial testing of the fields showed a preliminary output of 35.3 million cubic feet per day, which the company said it is an indication of a high potential.

Repsol said the Reggane basin is a major driver for future growth and its holdings add up to total net reserves of 145 million barrels reserves.

The region in the western portion of Algeria is one of Repsol's areas of greatest potential growth, as outlined in the company's 2008-2012 strategic plan documents.

The consortium secured exploration rights during the 2002-03 Algerian bidding rounds. During 2005-07, three discoveries were made in Reggane.

The Algerian government in 2002 and 2003 awarded the Spanish company the rights to explore the fields along with its consortium partners, Algeria's state-owned Sonatrach, Germany's RWE DEA and Italy's Edison S.p.A.

Repsol operates the consortium with a 33.75 percent stake and RWE Dea has a 22.5 percent interest. Other partners are Sonatrach with 25 person and Edison SPA with 18.75percent.

"Un agente me empujó y caí al vacío"


Un estudiante saharaui dice que la policía marroquí le tiró desde un cuarto piso
"Nunca subían hasta allí. Por eso, cuando había manifestaciones y nos perseguía la policía, nos escondíamos en la azotea de la residencia de estudiantes. Pero ese día sí subieron. Eran unos 20 ó 30 agentes, no sé. Yo estaba con dos amigos. Nos pegaron. Nos insultaron. A mí me fueron llevando, a golpes, hasta el borde del edificio. 'O te tiras o te tiro, perro saharaui', me dijo un policía. Me empujó y caí". Elwali Elqadmi, de 23 años, recorrió en un segundo el vacío de las cuatro plantas de la residencia de la Universidad de Marrakech. Era el 14 de mayo de 2008. El Gobierno marroquí niega, a través de un portavoz de su embajada en España, que sus fuerzas del orden participasen en este suceso. "Negamos que ningún estudiante haya sido arrojado por agentes de seguridad marroquí desde la azotea de una residencia en la universidad de Marrakech", señalan.

El brutal aterrizaje le fracturó a Elwali sus dos piernas, el brazo izquierdo y le abrió el cráneo, recuerda Labeid, el traductor que le acompaña estos días en Córdoba. Allí, el saharaui está ingresado en el centro de rehabilitación de Fepamic (Federación Provincial de Asociaciones de Minusválidos Físicos de Córdoba). Y es que las peores lesiones las sufrió el joven estudiante de 3º de Sociología en su columna vertebral. Tiene rota la quinta vértebra y una fisura en la sexta. Sus heridas le han dejado en una silla de ruedas. No puede caminar y mueve con dificultad sus brazos.

Elwali es delgado y risueño. Sonríe a pesar del drama que le ha golpeado. "Hay que ser optimista y seguir adelante", dice sin dudarlo. Y cuenta su historia: "Dejé Assa, mi ciudad en Sáhara por dos cosas. Por un lado, sólo podía continuar mis estudios en Marrakech. Por otro, quería llevar a Marruecos la lucha del pueblo saharaui por su libertad", explica. Desde muy pronto, Elwali participó en marchas y actos en defensa de la independencia de la antigua colonia española del Sáhara Occidental. La que llegó a ser considerada una provincia más, fue invadida por Marruecos en 1976, lo que provocó una larga guerra entre los independentistas del Frente Polisario y el ejército del rey Hassan II. Además, cientos de miles de saharauis huyeron a los campos de refugiados de Tinduf, en Argelia. Elwali Elqadmi era un activista saharaui en el corazón de la vigilada sociedad marroquí, custodiada estrechamente por las fuerzas de seguridad. "A mí me conocía la policía. De eso estoy seguro", zanja el joven, que ya había corrido más de una vez delante de los antidisturbios en protestas tanto nacionalistas, como estudiantiles, que exigían mejoras en la enseñanza.

La manifestación de mayo que derivó en la tragedia de Elwali fue de éstas últimas. "Llevábamos unos meses quejándonos por las malas condiciones del campus y de los estudios universitarios en general. Además, poco antes de la manifestación, tres alumnos se intoxicaron por alimentos en mal estado. Ese fue el detonante de la concentración", señala.

La marcha del día 23 discurrió pacíficamente por el recinto universitario, ya que los estudiantes no tenían permiso para salir fuera. Según recuerda Elwali, la policía rodeó todo el campus. "Una vez que obtuvieron permiso del rector, entraron. Tiraban botes de humo y pelotas de goma. Todos los estudiantes corrimos. La policía nos perseguía con porras. Yo me refugié con dos amigos en la azotea de la residencia de estudiantes, pensando que no subirían hasta allí".

Minutos después, Elwali terminaba estrellado en el suelo, frente a los dormitorios de la residencia masculina. "Tras la caída no perdí el conocimiento. Me dolía terriblemente la cabeza. Pasaron dos horas y media hasta que me atendieron. Todo el mundo corría de un lado a otro. Al terminar todo, se dieron cuenta de mi estado. Me sacaron en una de las primeras ambulancias".

En el hospital de Marrakech fue operado de sus heridas. "Fueron unos meses terribles, lo pasé muy mal, con muchos dolores". Sus padres vendieron su vivienda de Assa para poder pagarle una clínica privada en Marruecos, donde esperaban que recibiese mejor trato. Finalmente, su historia fue conocida por una plataforma de asociaciones de apoyo al pueblo saharaui de Córdoba, que consiguieron trasladar al joven a la ciudad andaluza a finales de diciembre.

Ahora espera ingresar en el hospital de Parapléjicos de Toledo para seguir su tratamiento y lograr la mayor autonomía posible. "Luego volveré al Sáhara. Quiero seguir luchando por mi pueblo", dice.

Fuente: http://www.elpais.com:80/articulo/andalucia/agente/empujo/cai/vacio/elpepuespand/20090125elpand_7/Tes

AWSA supports UPES for the release of Mustapha Abd Daiem


The Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) expressed support to the Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES) for the release of the Saharawi prisoner of conscience and member of UPES, Mustapha Abd Daiem.

The Australian organization expressed concerns, in a letter to the Secretary General of UPES, about the injustice to which Mustapha was subjected.

Here is the complete text of the letter:
--------------------------------------------------------------
28 January 2009

Mr. Malainin Lakhal
General Secretary
UPES
Saharawi Refugee camps

Dear Malainin

Free Mustapha Abd Daiem Campaign

I am writing on behalf of the Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) to express our support for your campaign for Mustapha Abd Daiem, a Saharawi human rights activist, journalist and member of the Assa-Zag Branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights and the Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union.

We are aware that Mustafa Abd Daiem is currently serving a three year prison sentence in Ait Meloul prison in Morocco and has been on a hunger strike to protest his situation. AWSA is concerned about his recent trial which we understand was highly irregular and thus his current prison sentence is unfair and unjustified.

On 4 November, the Court of First Instance of Guelmim convicted him of offending the flag of the Kingdom of Morocco, rebelling and inciting an armed gathering, participating in the destruction of public property and participating in the contempt of public officials on duty. In addition to the prison term he was fined 50,000 dirhams (approximately US$6,220). The sentence also leaves him unemployed, as it included a prohibition of practicing teaching or working in any educational institution for a period of 10 years.

Mustafa Abdel Dayem and his lawyers insist that the record of his questioning by the Royal Gendarmerie (procès-verbal), on which his conviction was largely based, was falsified and different from the one he originally signed. He was also denied his right to be defended by legal counsel during his appeal trial.

We understand that Mustapha’s treatment is in response to his belief in Saharawi independence. This would appear to be another example of the abuse of the human rights in the occupied territory of Western Sahara, including torture, restriction of freedom of expression and unfair trials for those Saharawis who publicly express opposition to the Moroccan occupation.

For these reasons AWSA strongly supports the campaign run by UPES for the release of Mustapha Abd Daiem.

Yours sincerely

Lesley Osborne
AWSA Vice President/Secretary
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Related stories:


18/01/2009Western
Sahara Campaign UK supports UPES for the release of Mustapha Abd Daiem

14/01/2009-
Mustapha Abd Daiem transferred from the prison of Inzegan to Ait Meloul


24/12/2008-
Free Mustapha Abd Daiem: Save the life of the family of a Saharawi prisoner of conscience in hunger strike

23/12/2008-
Amnesty International: Irregularities in Saharawi activist’s trial


23/12/2008-
The President of the Republic condemns Moroccan Forces kidnapping a 9 years old girl in Smara

21/11/2008-
Moroccan court of appeal postpones the trial of Saharawi journalist to Nov 27

12/11/2008-
Strong denunciation of the imprisonment of the Saharawi journalist Moustafa Abd daiem

06/11/2008-
The President of the Republic denounced the condemnation of the Saharawi journalist Moustapha Abd Dayem

05/11/2008-
Sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, Mustapha is transferred to Inzegan prison


04/11/2008-
Three years imprisonment and a fine against a member of UPES


28/10/2008-
Moroccan colonial authorities kidnap a Saharawi journalist and writer


28/10/2008-
Violent confrontations in Assa between the Moroccan colonial forces and Saharawi demonstrators

22/07/2007-
Moroccan regime harasses Saharawi journalist Mustapha Abdedaim again