Russia Sees Lack Of Future For Steel in America…


Steel Baby Steel…

Russia’s Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has dropped its plans to build a steel plant in the United States amid doubts about USA political will and over the recovery of the USA demand for steel.  MMK had announced plans in September of 2007  to build a steel plant in the state of Ohio, with an annual capacity of 1.5 million metric tons. It seems that as soon as the plans were announced the bottom fell out from the world financially. This caused a pause in future plans…

The money was there to invest but the demand of a failing economy and political suicide in America has progressed farther to the point that MMK will no longer wait. They will invest in other aspects of steel elsewhere in the world. MMK made a decision after studying the other two Russian steel companies Severstal and Evraz struggle with surviving in the conditions prevalent in the USA…

That conditions go beyond just lack of steel usage in America, it centers around the fact that American steel has created its own death bed, so to speak…

The steel usage by Asian countries has risen exponentially due to huge infrastructure business. There seems to not be enough steel to go around on this side of the world and with a European Union in a cost cutting phase the future of American steel is shaky at best…

I have been reading about the future of steel in America and the Western Big News is expressing that steel is making a comeback. Of course this is in direct contrast to what the Asian and Russian news is expressing. In fact, China really is trying to get more American steel to use in China. So Russia has watched China test the waters in America here in the last few weeks. China has expressed interest to invest in America with their Ansteel. In fact an American company has signed an agreement with the Chinese and that therein leads to what came next…

Let the political games begin:

The US lawmakers told Geithner they were “deeply concerned” that Ansteel’s “direct investment in an American steel company threatens American jobs and our national security“.

“We believe that this investment allows the full force and financing of the Chinese government to exploit the American steel market from American soil,” they wrote.

China has asked America to kindly not make a political issue out of this but that was to no avail. This is the same bull that Russia constantly receives…

That is an important part of what makes or breaks future investments in America…

Windows to Russia!

  • Russia’s Severstal to idle operations at US plant (reuters.com)
  • PREVIEW-Europe steelmakers await healthier Q2 after weak Q1 (reuters.com)
  • Schnitzer Steel Celebrates Success of “Racing to Stop Hunger” (eon.businesswire.com)
  • Vale partners with Posco in Brazil steel plant (reuters.com)
  • UPDATE 2-Steel Dynamics Q2 profit lags view, shares down (reuters.com)
  • US Steel sees industry comeback, costs crimp growth (reuters.com)
  • Canada’s New Steel Industry Key to Industrial Future: New Study (newswire.ca)
  • China’s Ansteel assessing US protest over plant deal: report (alternet.org)
  • Don’t block Angang’s steel deal, China tells U.S. (reuters.com)
  • Angang sees no setback from US steel firms’ objections (reuters.com)

Russia Talks About Gas Hydrates and Lake Baikal…


A map of Baikal
Lake Baikal

Russia’s Mir mini-submarines have discovered new gas hydrate fields on the bed of Lake Baikal this season. The gas hydrate layers were discovered for the first time during the second stage of the Lake Baikal expedition in 2009. Studying gas hydrates is a promising and urgent trend in contemporary science since they can be used as an additional source of energy.

Gas Hydrates are ice-like crystalline solids formed from mixtures of water and natural gas, usually methane. Concerning their importance, Alexander Ermolev, the head of the department for the development and exploration of gas and gas condensate deposits at the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, has this to say.

“In 1070, researchers of the department discovered and experimentally proved the existence of underground gas hydrates. The research now underway has significance for industry and is linked with the production of gas from gas hydrate deposits,” Alexander Ermolev says.

It is quite a difficult task to produce gas from gas hydrates because these crystals disintegrate when they are lifted to the surface and gas explodes as the temperature and pressure changes. Last year, Mir submersibles failed to lift the gas hydrates successfully from the bed of Lake Baikal. This year, experts use new equipment specially developed for this purpose. They hope they will be lucky this time. The Russian developments are basically linked to the extraction of gas hydrates from underground deposits, which were discovered by Soviet scientists in the 40s in permafrost in the Russian Far North, says Alexander Ermolev.

“There are several patents but they are linked with the lowering tabular pressure and increasing temperature,” says Alexander Ermolev.

“However, there is need to realize these two processes under tabular conditions,” Alexander Ermolev said.

Gas hydrates are logically described as a fuel of the future because one cubic meter of gas hydrate produces up to 200 cubic meters of methane. Experts have estimated that 25 trillion cubic meters of gas lies on the Black Sea bed in crystalline from.

This means that the Black Sea is capable of producing more gas than the Arctic and most importantly, this gas is cheaper.

Windows to Russia!

Russia: Pastor Phillip Miles Appeal Filed!


Originally posted 2008-06-05 08:38:00.
The written appeal was filed on May 5. The appeal process in Russia takes a minimum of 30 days. So they expect to receive a date for the appeal hearing in the near future.

Kyle

Update: The argument for Pastor Phillip’s appeal has been scheduled. It will take place on June 23 before a panel of three judges of the Moscow City Court. As is true with court dates in the United States, this date is subject to being changed. If a change takes place, we will update this site as soon as possible. In the meantime, please pray that the appeal will be successful and that Pastor Phillip will be released immediately after the argument.

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The FSB Has More Power Now and Other Thoughts…


FSB Building in Moscow

Medvedev just expressed in the last few weeks about this bill and endorsed the expansion of the Federal Security Service (FSB) powers. Now very quickly the Russian parliament passed a government-proposed bill expanding the powers of the Federal Security Service (FSB).

Also the Russian Deputies have now been allowed to boast of the record number of bills passed during this spring session.

As I have been saying that things have kicked back into high gear here in Russia since the Reset between America and Russia was crushed by the powers to be…

It seems like everything in Russia was set on a back burner (so to speak). The agendas were stalled to see if America was sincere about her motives…

The straw that seemed to break the camels back was when the American Administration sent Clinton on a little trip to disrupt issues in Ukraine, Georgia and several other countries. This little jaunt was a deliberate undermining of dealings that Russia had been working on in her own back yard…

Much has been going on quietly behind the scenes as we all watched the reset between America and Russia. Svetlana and I like many people in Russia had big hopes for a better relationship between two old adversaries. Was that too much to ask for? Looks like it was…

Now with the realization that America was not sincere. Mevedev has become a different person. He is still Medvedev, but now you can see something new in his eyes. Medvedev is not like Putin and would never make a great poker player. Putin’s eyes do not give him away but Medvedev’s do…

I said earlier in a post that Medvedev was a touch naive when he went to America this time. I see in his eyes that he learned something from that trip…

Windows to Russia!

Russia: Her Children’s Railroads!


Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and reading a newspaper that my Wife brought home to me. (Yes, I can read)

There was a particular article that caught my attention because it was not typical news, like death and destruction. It was about the Children Trains that were built during the Soviet era.

The way I understand the purpose of these Railways, is that Teenagers are taught the skills of Engineering on a Train. The Children’s Railroads were started because the rail business in Russia (CCCP) has always been so large that they needed a manpower pool to get a constant supply of employees.

This is a list of the children trains in Russia still functioning!

“A children’s railway is an extracurricular educational institution, where teenagers learn railway professions. This phenomenon originated in the USSR and was greatly developed in Soviet times. The world’s first children’s railway was opened Moscow, in Gorky Park[1] in 1932. At the breakup of the USSR, 52 children’s railways existed in the country.

Many children’s railways are still functioning in post-Soviet states and Eastern European countries. Examples include a children’s railway in Minsk, one in Yaroslavl and many other cities.“(Wikipedia)

I found this very interesting and never knew such places existed until today. I wish that I had such an opportunity when I was a teenager. I would have taken advantage of the opportunity to become a Engineer on a Train.

I keep saying that I learn something new everyday!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Sunrise to Freedom, leaving us one person at a time!


Originally posted 2008-07-16 14:15:00.

Our Village. The Village: Sunrise to freedom that we go to has had another death. A 83 year old lady that I called Goat Lady died of cancer recently. It was not known until to late.

There are only about 10 people left in the village.

We found out about it through Svet’s Mother and her son Misha! They are down at the village enjoying some fresh air and sunshine.

There are only about 10 people left who live full time in the village.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

http://kylekeeton.com/2007/10/russia-sunrise-to-freedom.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/06/life-in-village-is-it-too-crowded.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/05/sunrise-to-freedom-russian-village.html

Russia: Model 24 Volga!


Originally posted 2008-02-19 10:56:00.

Our Volga, Model 2410, We call her Nelly!Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about Volga cars!

We own a Volga model 24. It is a lot like a 1960’s car from America & it is a Tank! (For lack of a better word)

We are going to do a 3 part article on the Volga Car! From model 21 to present day!

The Volga is the flagship car of the Soviet Union (and Russia) & foreign cars have almost sent the Volga to its grave…. (Some would say that would be good)

I think the Volga is one of the best cars I have ever owned!

So came back tomorrow & see part one.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

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Yes, Russia’s Backing of Iran Sanctions Starting to Collapse…


I was drinking my morning cup of coffee here in Moscow, Russia. I was thinking about a article that I read last night before going to bed. The article is half true and misses the whole part about the involvement of America in this situation…

This article is written by one of the several half wits that work for the Western Press units that are stationed in Moscow Russia (Time in this case!).  We have these individuals that seem to love their job at slanting the facts and always conveniently remove facts that get in the way of their truth.

The article: “Is Russia’s Backing of Iran Sanctions Starting to Fray?”

Go ahead and read the article, but remember that it takes two to tangle and America has burned Russia severely these last few weeks. Take a look at some of the articles that I have been turning out over the last month or so…

I have been very busy on this subject for weeks now and made it clear that from the beginning that Russia had already figured out that the USA had played games with them…

Medvedev spent some time soul searching, so to say. While Putin took the lime light for a few weeks. I am still disappointed in some of Medvedev’s decisions but I am now seeing some reality sink into his thoughts. I also truly believe that Putin has let his prodigy go on his own two feet and Medvedev by being a tad on the naive side got burned…

I have explained many times that the thoughts of what is happening in the Kremlin are expressed in subtle news reports that are released to the public. Moscow never made it a hidden agenda that if the sanctions are messed with that they would pull out of the implementation. In fact they were upset that “America and Company” decided to expand the sanctions virtually the same day they were passed…

U.S, and Obama will need to offer Russia some major rewards if he wants an even tougher stand on the nuclear issue. But with Russia now appearing to backpedal on its support for sanctions, such rewards might be necessary just to get the Kremlin to keep the promises it has already made.

No – Time Magazine – America needs to quit trying to buy her way and lead by example. Do what is correct the first time through and quit changing the rules after they are decided. The Children on a playground that try those games are always disliked by the other children…

Windows to Russia!

Has BP Stopped The Oil Leak?


Health, safety and environment (HSE) workers c...
Image via Wikipedia

BP stopped oil leak?
2010-07-16

Kent Wells, the Vice President of British Petroleum stated the oil spill at Deepwater Horizon was fully blocked – RIA Novosti.

The new cap was installed on July 13th and equipped with special pipes, delivering oil to tankers. Kent Wells explained it can be said, Oil leaks into the ocean no longer.

According to the BP plan, the oil well will be cemented, its functions will be passed to the two neighbouring derricks, being installed since May.

Deepwater Horizon platform sunk near Louisiana coast on April 22nd after the explosion in the oil well, which killed 11 persons. The U.S. administration called the incident the biggest ecology catastrophe in USA history.

Lets hope that it is stopped and now we have years of clean up to do…

Windows to Russia!

Russia is Officially Bringing the “Caspian Sea Monster” Back too Life…


Some interesting things are going on in Russia. Last week we talked about the building of 5000 new bomb shelters in Moscow. This week it is official and not a pipe dream, The Russian government has just commissioned the renewal of the “Caspian Sea Monster,” the legendary ground effect vehicle (GEV). Only 30 such crafts were built in the Soviet Union over two decades.

In August of 1967 an American spy satellite took sensational photographs. Above we have a video of that huge unknown machine that looked like an aircraft, some 100 meters long and about 500 tons in weight. It was flying over the Caspian Sea waters at more than 500 kilometers per hour. Pentagon analysts called this object “The Caspian Sea Monster”. It was constructed to make the Soviet Union a naval superpower. Watch the video to find out about the history of the Caspian sea monster’s construction and its rebirth today.

The rebirth of the GEV production was announced by the Alekseev design and construction bureau, which was, in the old days, the leading producer of such vehicles. According to their production branch director, Evgeny Meleshko, the bureau is working diligently on the craft. They will spend two years making the new design with the first tests scheduled to be launched in 2012.  He also said, “For our company it’s a important project, and most of our specialists will be working on it.”

GEVs are high-speed naval vehicles that fly just over the surface thanks to a high-pressure air cushion created by its wings. The first prototype with a wingspan of 37.6 meters and a hull length of about 100 meters could travel at 250 knots and had a maximum take-off weigh of 544 tons.

The Soviet Union produced several models, including one for amphibian troops transportation and a cruise missile carrier. There was also a project for a strategic GEV armed with ballistic missiles.

It makes you wonder what the plans are for now and does ballistic missiles fit the picture. Russia is big on delivery vehicles to carry their Nuclear tipped missiles…

Looks to me like the Kremlin is putting out a message…

Windows to Russia!