Member Info for Madpunter

The previous post was posted on the 9th Feb.

Posted by Ivyspivey on the 9th Feb :-

Kinzinger meet
http://georgiatoday.ge/news/19373/Congressman-Kinzinger%2C-Georgian-Parliament-Speaker-Meet-in-US

Posted by R8pilot on the 8th Feb :-

Anaklia project
“We have been talking to the Department of State about the economic projects that our government has planned, including the Anaklia project,” said Talakvadze.
“Our main goal is to find a new, reliable partner investor, who will be able to implement this [Anaklia] project. We are ready to support this project in the future too”, the Parliament Chairman stated.

http://georgiatoday.ge/news/19383/Talakvadze-on-Anaklia-Port%3A-We-Have-to-Do-Everything-to-Implement-It

Posted by regdik on the 8th Feb :-

Hi Guys
My objection of setting up a private area will prevent the silent majority who read the board (but do not post) from reading/following what our super detectives unearthing. This LSE board has been a haven foe some and without some of the top posters will become another wasteland inhabited by the unclean just like that other board.
I will continue to comment and post on this board.

Posted after numerous comments about setting up a group on other media outlets.

Posted by frog2 on the 8th Feb :-

Bidzina
Sorry if already posted.link to u.s embassador kelly meeting Bidzina.https://bm.ge/en/article/us-ambassador-to-georgia-kelly-degnan-meets-bidzina-ivanishvili-/48535

Posted by Earsbern on the 8th Feb :-

RE: Frontera was discussed
Chris572 - entry of 22.37 - brilliant.

The Speaker of the Georgian parliament is a member of the Georgian Dream party. As such, you can bet that his comments would have been run past the the prime minister and other party officials before he stated them from his chair. I'm pretty darned sure, too, that they would have been approved by their boss, Ivanishvili the oligarch. So that statement (' The fact is that arbitration is the truth and we respect this decision no matter what. Its connection to current political processes was not really right.') is an obvious attempt to ease tension about Frontera by the GD.

The pressure from the US members of Congress has clearly paid off. Great!

Posted by Looed on the 8th Feb :-

Russian...sarcasm??
My, it does go on so I won't post the whole thing as I find it a bit bonkers - so just the part that refers to FRR.

"In Georgia, rallies that day do not stop telling us. Not because they "hide the truth from the people", but because we don't care about these rallies - these are rallies of workers of the American company Frontera Resources Corporation, which is engaged in exploration of energy resources on the Georgian shelf. So she stupidly does not pay the workers money. For months. And for years. Workers before the new year, already this year, 2020, came to a rally designed to hint that it would be nice, in general, to pay money. Most of the protesters were immediately fired. For nefig rally. Maidans are allowed only in Ukraine, and not in American companies.
Now it’s not only demanding money for work, but they are also outraged that their comrades were thrown into the street without money right before the New Year. And you know how America reacted to this? Well guess ... Praaavilno! The US immediately threatened Georgia with sanctions! First, one congressman made such a proposal, but now two more have joined him.
Do you know how the Georgian authorities reacted to this? Remarkably reacted. They rushed to explain to their citizens that these sanctions should not be called “sanctions”, because these are not “sanctions” at all, but some kind of misunderstanding, and most likely there will be nothing at all. No sanctions, no salary. The Georgians are sitting and thinking who their authorities are protecting in this situation."

Source - https://www.russiapost.su/archives/202083

Posted by Chris572 on the 7th Feb :-

Frontera was discussed
Archil Talakvadze: I am sure the US Congress is well aware of the dispute over the Frontera

Archil Talakvadze
Archil Talakvadze
Photo: Parliament of Georgia
"The oil and gas company Frontera Resources was not connected to the political process," Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze told the Chronicle.

He said the Frontera issue was one of the topics discussed during a meeting with congressmen in the United States. "At a meeting with congressmen, we had a conversation with the company Frontera, which was isolated in a letter sent by congressmen for the first time. This was evident in the meetings. The Frontera case is under discussion in Stockholm arbitration. Accordingly, we will not comment in advance as we are responsible. The fact is that arbitration is the truth and we respect this decision no matter what. Its connection to current political processes was not really right. I am sure that the Congress is well aware of the dispute over the Frontera, ”Talakvadze told the Chronicle.

Republican Congressman Marcouine Malin, in a letter sent to George Gakharia on January 19, is concerned "with Georgia's shifting democratic values ??and deteriorating economy." According to him, American and European business interests in Georgia were subject to harassment and assault - for example, the oil and gas company Frontera Resources, Texas.

Hogan Lovells, one of the world's largest international law firms, issued a statement on January 31, 2020, basing Frontera's allegations on the Georgian side.

Posted by Chris572 on the 7th Feb :-

Anne Davies DIRECTOR OF BP GEORGIA
Anne's recent comment on Georgia . The GG do not want to discourage investment from the like of BP

24.Jan .2020
Ann Davies, Director of BP Georgia declares, that there are several economic challenges in Georgia, so organizations like the EU-Georgia Business Council, is very important.

There can always be challenges that may be related to the political or macroeconomic situation in the country. We must work together to help the business environment in the country and enable them to grow

https://bm.ge/en/article/director-of-bp-georgia-there-are-several-economic-challenges-in-georgia/47620

Posted by investmentboy on the 7th Feb :-

Brian Babin Tweet
I find this tweet by Brian Babin to be a real show of support to our cause and it directly references Frontera!

What I am surprised about however is the lack of response from investors such as ourselves to that message. There are 12 quite interesting comments in response to the Tweet but none that I can see from us investors!

We should be backing this fully and voicing our very real plights as investors, so that important US figures such as this get a real feel for the impact this has made on foreign investment! (That’s is is by the way).

Consider further than Zaza and SN will DEFINITELY be reading these responses as they have spent good money lobbying these people.

Get commenting!!

https://twitter.com/repbrianbabin/status/1220737293050372096?s=21

Posted by Looed on the 7th Feb :-

Long article on the employment dispute and arbitration
The article is in Georgian but its a Russian website.

I am not going to cut and paste the whole thing as its a summary of stuff that's already been reported. The article starts by saying the workers want their jobs back yet ends with the 'no oil here' claim.

I will cut and paste this bit as it does seem to refer to the arbitration -

"However, according to the Georgian Oil and Gas Agency, the company has not yet submitted the works needed to transfer the specified resources. The volume of gas reserves confirmed by Frontera Resources at that time is 1 925 million cubic meters.
Kakha Kaladze, who headed the Ministry of Energy in 2015, said in a statement about the company's plans that there was a lack of gas either in Turkmenistan or in other countries.
"There may be some supplies underground, but to prove it, it is necessary to invest billions, and only after confirmation has to be made - how important it is, and so to speak, to make this gas financially, commercially, business-wise. Here we are talking not about hundreds of millions, but about billions of dollars of investments, "the minister said.
According to him, Frontera has been working in Georgia for 20 years, and the contract presented by him annually is no suggestion for these works.
Everything is related to money
As opposition MP Roman Gotsiridze said earlier, Frontera's goal, which has "discovered" more gas in Georgia than in Kuwait, is to deceive the Georgian government into a lie."

Source - https://sputnik-georgia.com/reviews/20200207/247678219/--------.html

Note - this is the site that published the video yesterday - this seems a more 'detailed' version of the original article

Posted by regdik on the 7th Feb :-

I seem to recall that over the last 3 years FRR were sheading staff. Look at the report from Mole on his visit that the Houston office was like a ghost ship and most of the Geologists had left as FRR were moving the back operation to Georgia. At the time were discussing a cost reduction plan and ploughing the money into there drilling programme. I agree with brgmg that the local staff will not have the well head skills but will be used as ancillary staff. Most drilling teams are sub contractors as once a well is drilled the rig is of no vale to ongoing operation. Hence this indicates that these locals were either supporting the drilling teams as subs/contractors or used as oil collection/distribution guys (lower skill). BH guys will be the management and manage and monitor the drilling teams. I would not put to much into their involvement as soon as the block dispute started I’m sure that any BH involvement would be down scaled if not stopped.
So looking at the trending over this period we see FRR deskilling which coincides with the large share sell-offs and the difficulty of raising cash on the market. FRR actively looking for funding/JV support as demonstrated by court papers (BP) and BH involvement. To do this they would need a product to sell – yet again you could see that arbitration action shows that we have a product in the ground (or why spend 6Mil on Lawyers).
What surprised me is that the main focus is the workers (I do hope they eventually get paid) and not the main reason of the arbitration. This workers focus to me is a PR action to damage FRR and deflect the US focus on GG backslidings on their election promises. The fact FRR are being used as an example indicates to me that we have a reasonable case – US are not stupid and would have the relevant information checked prior going to print. I’m sure FRR are not squawky clean in all this but they have battened down the hatches so they are either going for the damages against GG or selling off the licences if arbitration is successfully resolved.
Both sides will soon play their final hand (arbitration final submission) so not long to wait or will a deal be struck prior to this.

Posted by Freescot on the 6th Feb :-

Part 3
Since the end of November, the company is no longer operational as 84 employees have been dismissed. There are only some guards on the oil rigs, and former employees of the company say that because they are insufficient, environmental pollution and catastrophes can occur, especially because some of the wells are in the Vashlovani Nature Reserve, ”said Nikoloz Janiashvili.

Frontera's oil production manager, Giorgi Janiashvili, does not want to interfere in politics and is awaiting the outcome of the arbitration dispute. According to him, "there is an arbitration dispute before the state regarding the Frontera." Therefore, until we have this answer, no one will decide whether it is legal or not. My subjective opinion is to wait for the arbitration dispute to be resolved. "

On February 3, representatives of the Georgian Trade Unions met in Dedoplistskaro with former employees of Frontera Western Georgia. At the meeting they discussed their debt and discussed future plans. It has been said that it is necessary to provide the public with accurate and impartial information, for which former employees of the company are reporting permanent promotions.

By: Nato Megutnishvili

Posted by Freescot on the 6th Feb :-

Part 2
Frontera's licensing area in Georgia is 5060 sq. Km and covers Dedoplistskaro, Signagi, Sagarejo, Gurjaani and Marneuli districts. The opening of the oil well in the Tariban Valley was attended by former President Eduard Shevardnadze. The former president said that foreign specialists had found a large supply of oil in Shirak, which would have been good for the economy, with Dedoplistskaro waiting for jobs.

The Partnership Fund is a 100% shareholder of JSC Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation, which in turn is based on a 100% equity stake in the state. The corporation is managed by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development. Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation and Frontera are partners in another company. According to the November 2019 Registry Excerpt, Frontera Western Georgia LLC owns 50% of the corporation, with the remaining 50% owned by Frontera. Frontera transferred 50% of its ownership to another company, but the public registry did not register the transfer.

Giorgi Botkoveli, the head of the Kakheti regional organization of the United National Movement, says that Fronta West Georgia had no problems with either the salaries or the functioning until 2012:

“There were years when there was the only company in Dedoplistskaro where people were employed, some were drivers and some were in other positions. It was the only company that actually paid salaries in Dedoplistskaro at a time of extreme hardship in the country. Today we see that as the government has changed, the company is facing problems on a daily basis. Sure, Frontera is dishonest when it doesn't pay its employees, but does the government act honestly when it interferes with the company and tries its best to deliberately limit it as an American company? This is the real face of today's government. If Fontera was a Russian company, it would certainly not be a problem. That is why it is the deliberate act of Ivanishvili, Gakharia and Kaladze, the action of a group in support of the Russian government, ”Botkoveli said.

Nikoloz Janiashvili, the mayor of Dedoplistskaro municipality, said in a response that he had neither heard from the opposition anything "clever" nor had Frontera had anything to do with politics:

“It has been 11 months that the company employees have not been paid and 11 months Frontera employees have been working without pay. When employees began a fair trial and filed a lawsuit, the company on December 17 fired 84 employees completely illegally without any compensation and old salaries. People are protesting this fact on a daily basis and demanding to pay off their debt and get back to work. In the 21st century, not 11 months, but 1-2 months for people to work without pay.

Posted by Freescot on the 6th Feb :-

Fb post yesterday part 1
?https://knews.ge/?p=44843

News Journalistic Investigation Articles
What is the basis of the dispute over Frontera
04.02.2020 Maia Mamulashvili 0 Comments # Fronta # Dedoplistskaro # Oil # Dispute
The noise around the oil company Frontera Western Georgia does not stop. Frontera is demanding $ 3.5 billion in damages from the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation. The dispute is pending at The Hague Arbitration Court, which was filed by the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation and the State Oil and Gas Agency on January 15, 2018. On the other hand, Frontera demands the repayment of 84 months of its 11 months of debt. The opposition says the Georgian government is deliberately killing the US company and trying to expel it from the Georgian market. Employees are expected to receive salaries from the company.

In recent critical letters from US congressmen, the name of the company Frontera has been twice voiced. First Republican Congressman Markuin Malin wrote a letter to George Gakharia, referring to the decline in FDI in Georgia, citing, for example, the oil and gas company Frontera, which was cited as one of the objects of harassment by the Georgian government.

Frontera Western Georgia is an American oil and gas company that has been seeking oil and gas in Kakheti, particularly Dedoplistskaro since 1997. The company is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce.

In parallel to the arbitration dispute between the company and state agencies, 84 employees of the company are demanding an 11-month debt settlement, which is regularly staged by protests and sometimes by union representatives. Against this background, the opposition is actively discussing the content of the letters of the US Congressmen, according to which the authorities are deliberately trying to obstruct the activities of the American company in Georgia.

An agreement with Frontera Resources Georgia Corporation on an equitable distribution of oil and gas production was signed in 1997. Frontera is demanding $ 3.5 billion in damages from the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation. The dispute is pending at The Hague Arbitration Court, which was filed by the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation and the State Oil and Gas Agency on January 15, 2018. Georgian corporation and agency accuse US company of breach of contract. A foreign company in a lawsuit alleges that it was the victim of a breach of the terms of the same contract by the corporation and agency.

Posted by Ivyspivey on the 6th Feb :-

Georgia US Relationship 2020
https://www.georgianjournal.ge/politics/36198-us-georgian-relationship-outlook-in-2020.html

GOGC Report from August
Highlights financial position to deteriorate in 2019 but improve this year.
See P7 for references to Arbitration with FRR

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=2ahUKEwjf1K635r3nAhXDkFwKHYycD5wQFjAFegQIBhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgaltandtaggart.com%2Fdw%2FdownloadReport.php%3Ffl%3D411&usg=AOvVaw2V9OTaxBsbZCk2dJQOr8uF

Posted by Mickthegambler on the 6th Feb :-

GOGC is currently involved in a litigation with Frontera Resources Georgia Corporation (FRGC), a Cayman Island company, regarding the breach of the production sharing agreement (PSA) related to exploration, production and sharing of crude oil and natural gas. In January 2018, GOGC and the State Agency of Oil and Gas (SAOG) initiated arbitration proceedings against FRGC, who has allegedly breached certain provisions of the PSA including but not limited to the relinquishment of approximately 99% of the Contract Area. On the other hand, in September 2018 Frontera Resources launched a counterclaim on US$ 3.5bn against GOGC and SAOG claiming lost profits for 2012-27 per GOGC’s 2018 audit report. Management believes that GOGC and SAOG have factual and legal bases to win the case, and that possibility for Frontera to win these claims is remote. The court hearings are planned for October 2019. Significant growth in other expenses is related to the above-mentioned on-going litigation case with Frontera Resources. Other operating expenses increased 58.1% y/y to US$ 10.4mn in 2018. Legal fees, related to litigation case with Frontera Resources, which were up 3.9x to US$ 2.7mn was the main reason behind the growth. Transportation, materials, repair and maintenance expense was up 20.4% y/y to US$ 3.1mn in 2018. Other costs remained mostly stable.

Posted by bugsy-b on the 6th Feb :-

RE: Mind Storm Translation
11/13/19, 10:41 PM

I messaged the Frontera demonstrator Iveri Tsiklauri on Novemebr 13th last year...
"Iveri, Well done on speaking out at the demonstration of Frontera.
I hope you will all soon get paid. My friend in Batumi tells me lots of Frontera oil is there. It is time for them to pay your 10 months wages. Good luck"..

Couldn't lure him into a reply.. He was active when the Frontera protestors were outside the "U.S. Embassy", And also when they all met with Giorgi Tatishvilli and co from the state oil company..

For those of you with FB, He's the grey haired guy front left with puma jacket on..

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2446974522186546&set=ms.c.eJw9zFEKwEAIA9EblSZGV~_9~%3BsdIV8vtghlLNUag7g~%3BE~_XMi4ABhIdKXKsAmcBPdBQ92kDL0Aw9EFysBMTOcY8E8x8QF18yKT.bps.a.2446974248853240&type=3&theater

Adam Kinsinger meets Archil Talakvadze 06.02.2020 / 21:47
"Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Archil Talakvadze , who is paying a working visit to the United States together with the delegation , is holding bilateral meetings in the US Senate and House of Representatives"

" We have had quite productive conversations on all issues that are in our common interest and I very much hope the decision-making process will be swift and result-oriented"... "On ALL issues" ... I like the sound of that...

https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/584286-adam-kinzingeri-chveni-poziciebi-ar-unda-gaviazrot-rogorc-gabrazebis-an-ganacqenebis-gamomxatveli-gzavnilebi-aramed-rogorc-megobrebs-shoris-jansagi-urtiertdamokidebulebis-gamomxatveli-zhesti

Posted by WHamBoy on the 6th Feb :-

I like that “all issues” post too Bugsy. Great find - keep up the good work. It does seem that both sides are engaging in political posturing right now: with the workers being used to highlight FRR’s shortcomings and the US politicians being asked to highlight the damage done by the Georgians to the FRR business. None of this would be taking place if everything had already been stitched up. Everything is still to play for. It reminds me of the last few days and hours of fighting that always takes place just before a truce is announced after a long, protracted war. Both sides try to steal as much ground from the other side as possible, as they know they’ll get to keep what they hold after the truce. The question for me is who are all these public squabbles designed for and aimed at? The Arbitration panel? The 2 governments? FRR and GOGC? Time will tell, but I still check-in to this bb everyday and I am still hopeful. GLA

Posted by Ivyspivey on the 6th Feb :-

More stuff

TBILISI, February 6 - News-Georgia. Former employees of the American oil company Frontera Resources held a protest rally in central Tbilisi today demanding compensation for their salary arrears.

About a hundred people gathered outside the building of Tbilisi State University on Chavchavadze Avenue and staged a march to Paliashvili Street, where the company’s office is located, with the slogans “Let serfdom end”, “Up to a hundred employees were left without a salary”, “Why don't you give me a salary?”

Representatives of United Trade Unions and industry organizations joined the protesters.

At first we tried to get into the situation as much as possible and not complicate the situation. But when we realized that there would be no salary for the New Year, we decided to fight legally. We were fired on December 17 only because we demanded our salaries. The company did not make any concessions to somehow alleviate the situation, to help us at least before the holidays, ”said Iveri Tsiklauri, an employee of the company, oil production operator, in an interview with News-Georgia.
Frontera Resources Corporation, an American gas and oil exploration and production company, was founded in 1996. The company's strategy is to search for hydrocarbon production prospects in the markets of Eastern Europe, which belong to the Black Sea basin.

Posted by Ivyspivey on the 6th Feb :-

Mind Storm Translation
Translate from:Russian
Tuk Tuk! What the hell? Protest in Georgia. But there are no parliamentarians, and no American oil companies.

Frontera Resources, a non-profit company, has not started paying in full. And under the New Year she gave them a gift - a gift. There are many pregnant women and members of the profession who work hard and long after their illness. Damage to the reputation of non-profits companies.

An interesting eight American story. Congressman Brian Babin has spoken out about the problem of "Frontera" disrupting "current democratic trends in Georgia".

There is not enough democracy in your home country, you have to get rid of the American company. So what?

Open in Google Translate

Posted by Ivyspivey on the 6th Feb :-

Twitter stuff
Quite a lot of Tweets going in about FRR employee demos traction.Will try and not release stuff and apologies if already posted but these tweets only sent in last few hours.

https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/uvolennye-sotrudniki-amerikanskoj-kompanii-frontera-resources-ustroili-akciju-v-tbilisi/

Mind Storm Tweet
https://ift.tt/3bjd9xRThis is tweet translated New post in MindStorm: Knock Knock! Who's there? Protesters in Georgia. But now with claims not to parliament, but to the American oil company. Frontera Resources, an oil producer, has not paid salaries to employees for almost a year. And on New Year's eve ...

Posted by Kippermanbike on the 6th Feb :-

Part 2
Bidzina Ivanishvili met with Frontera's representative at a technical level and in his own prices at the premiere, though it was a closed-door meeting with the media only when the US ambassador made a statement, noting that the parties discussed God-given prospects for themselves. It has been said that the government and KETA are intended for this company only to invite US congressmen to pursue their interests. In September 2012, a small arbitration dispute arose in Georgia. Profit tax demanded by the company 2012 claims so-called unacceptable profit of $ 3.5 billion If frontera 33 of 2019 the sky is losing relevance of the government and the people and the relationship between the company and a very tense as the basis for the transfer of critical Congress last summer in the Oil and Gas Corporation panther sue the company in the face of commitments

What they were accused of, though, is that this financial agent has been the subject of a dispute. Another controversial issue is the reduction of horribly fossil fuels 2 that the company has avoided paying the US congressman. That you failed to cite as one of the victims of the Georgian government's criticism Bidzina Ivanishvili appeared in the US House of Representatives when congressmen did Ivanishvili elsewhere, referring to the paperrater cup, which itself calculates the operation on Georgia's nature. Can not make it

Cancer in Dedoplistskaro Dismissed 85 Employees in December According to staff, the decision was made by the department and other 11-year-olds to pay their taxes in accordance with the rules of conduct and dry conditions.

Search and extraction of so-called Officers on Licensing Areas Performs my case and with it today the State's 2011 heavy distribution agreements with the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation where the National Petroleum Company is partnering with Operating Companies in Operations Sales and Business molds for supervision and control of the reminders that Georgia is totally dependent on imported oil products for passive consumption exceeds one billion tonnes in the last ten years, the average annual oil production in Georgia in 1501 and Turkey's palette of the week a day of oil production in France compared to massively amoiqureba but it is not like other companies in the oil-producing regions of Georgia and bliss while others result from sky to sky wings illusions take up work