"Ukraine's government mulling privatization of energy sector - Yatseniuk"

[grahamhgreen]

The government of Ukraine has the idea of privatization of the energy sector in the country, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has said.

"I'll tell you about the idea of privatization of the energy sector at transparent auctions: Chornomornaftogaz and other companies, which are part of Naftogaz Ukrainy," he said at a meeting with the business community in Kyiv on Monday.

The premier stressed that Naftogaz Ukrainy is "a burden for the budget and a non-transparent monster." According to him, privatization will help stop corruption in the energy sector.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/194102.html

Tell me this is not whats happening:

That was fast. Right after eliminating Russian as an official language. Priorities of the new government: 1) Xenophobia 2) Looting of public assets 3) Austerity for the majority 4) Destruction of local industry (EU free trade) 5) Joining the American Empire (NATO) - Gabe Haythornthwaite · Simon Fraser University

[dipsydoodle]

1. You'd best believe it.

Aside from loans to them by the west being secured against assets they'd have been expected do a sell some off themselves anyway.

Anyone who thought otherwise........

This would obviously mean an end to heavily subsidised gas to consumers too - another IMF condition.

Mugs.

[malaise]

3. The brazen ways in which we see the wholsesale theft of oil and other valuable resources

across this globe is beyond frightening. This is raw naked imperialism in its new garb known as The Shock Doctrine posing as neo-liberalism via the multilateral lending agencies.
Foment unrest
Kick out the government
Replace with clones with unpopular technocrats (from the Chicago model used in Chile and anywhere they can since) all of whom were trained in overseas anti-people business schools and sold out Economics Departments.
Devalue, Deregulate, Divest -expect more debt despite all the promises.
Privatize all the good resources

Keynes should be rolling in his grave.

I'm tired - I've watched this madness since 1973.

[Downwinder]

2. Ukraine is catching up to Greece in a hurry.

[geek tragedy]

4. yeah, those gas reserves belonged to RUSSIA.

not sure why this is surprising--if a country doesn't have the infrastructure or the capital necessary to build the infrastructure to develop its reserves--as Ukraine clearly doesn't--it either has to (a) borrow a ton of money to develop them or (b) auction them off to the private sector while negotiating concessions/fees etc.

Debt servitude vs privatization vs giving them to Russia.

[dipsydoodle]

9. The energy companies and the reserves are two different subjects.

This has no bearing on those reserves which are Ukraine's : not Russian.

[geek tragedy]

10. presumably the energy sector includes both the companies

and their rights/concessions to extract

[dipsydoodle]

12. Thats the bit which doesn't follow

Currently the energy companies are basically buying and redistributing Russian gas and electricity from Ukraine's power stations.

The reserves you mention would be on / under state owned land.

[geek tragedy]

13. it's also responsible for extraction

moreover, it's had an uninterrupted track record of losing money by the barrel due to mismanagement and corruption

[pa28]

5. Surprise! It's Shock doctrine time.

Got to hand it to "Yat" he's moving before the dust has even begun to settle.

[functioning_cog]

6. xenophobia? Wanting Russian force out of Crimea is not xenophobic? Language?

the law of Ukraine still recognizes Russian as a second official language of Ukraine. Please get your "facts" and views from other sources.

[grahamhgreen]

7. "The new Ukraine’s first law revokes Russian language rights"

http://my.firedoglake.com/fairleft/2014/02/25/ukraine-decides-to-fight-the-russian-language/

[functioning_cog]

8. and was vetoed. law not in effect. next?

[grahamhgreen]

11. Right after they did that, 2) Looting of public assets 3) Austerity for the majority. War for oil, &

gas.

Enough with the fossil fuel foolishness.

Stop letting oil crazies like Dick Cheney dictate US policy.

Time to transition to renewables, and stop this insanity.

Put the weapon down. Walk away from Ukraine.

[reformist2]

14. It's not too late to puke up the Kool Aid you drank.

This new government of the Ukraine that Obama & Kerry & Merkel & the EU & the IMF are endorsing is not as fair and democratic as advertised....

Don't fall into the trap of either/or - you don't have to be a fan of what Russia is doing to despise what the "West" is doing to the Ukraine!

[dipsydoodle]

15. Its odd this wasn't picked up before.

Originally cropped up March 3rd.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a96_1393858876&comments=1