Ukrtransnafta has launched pumping Azeri Light oil through the Odessa-Brody pipeline in the designed averse direction for the refineries in the West Ukraine, UNIAN reported with reference to the Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Ministry.

• May 21, 2011

The fourth China-Japan-ROK (Republic of Korea) Leaders Meeting is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Tokyo. The event is expected to lay a foundation for deepening trilateral cooperation after the March 11 Japanese quake and improving China-Japan relations.

• May 21, 2011

Prime Minister Karim Masimov said Thursday he intends to nominate Kazakhstan National Bank Chairman Grigory Marchenko to lead the International Monetary Fund

• May 20, 2011

Russia said Thursday its cash-strapped neighbour Belarus will have to wait at least until next month before it receives a bailout loan to help fill its cash-starved state coffers.

• May 20, 2011

The president of Tepco, which operates Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, has resigned as the firm reported a loss of 1.25tn yen ($15.3bn; £9.4bn) for the past financial year.

• May 20, 2011

The United States insisted Wednesday that plans to stage missile defences in Europe does not pose a threat to Russia, after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev threatened to quit a key nuclear arms reduction agreement.

• May 19, 2011

Estonian main electricity grid company Elering ordered an analysis from Pöyry Management Consulting (UK) Ltd on pro and contra arguments concerning liberalisation of the Estonian natural gas market and the plan on future activities, LETA/Delfi reports.

• May 19, 2011

Kazakhstan will freeze further development of its most promising gas field, Karachaganak, if it fails to resolve its dispute with foreign shareholders in the project, the Kazakh oil and gas minister said on Wednesday.

• May 19, 2011