World News from the BBC
Russian plans to develop a major Arctic offshore gas field have been delayed indefinitely. The Gazprom energy giants have been planning to pump gas from the Shtokman field in the Barents Sea off Russia's north coast in a joint venture with Statoil of Norway and Total of France. This report from Andrew Walker.
Gazprom described the Shtokman field as a strategic significance for the company. It says on its website that it will become a
pivotal
point to form a new gas-producing region on the Russian Arctic shelf. That prospect has receded further into the future. A Gazprom executive says the development of Shtokman is being delayed indefinitely. It's too costly – a reflection of the difficult conditions of operating offshore in the Arctic. The rapid recent development of Shell Gas in the United States has also raised new questions about the prospects for selling Shtokman's gas and about the outlook for prices.
The Senegalese President Macky Sall has promised to scrap the country's upper house, or the Senate to raise money for flood relief. At least 13 people have died in severe flooding over the past few weeks. A presidential spokesman said that more than $15m could be raised for flood defenses each year if the Senate was scrapped. The proposal was welcomed by these residents of the capital Dakar.
"Close the Senate, because for me, the Senate is not useful."
"It is something which take(s) much money from the country, and I think that it is not a good thing to keep this institution." "Because you think it is a waste of money?" "Yes, I think that it is the waste of money to keep on this institution."