RusEnergy

04.29.2005 RBC NEWS - Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean are scheduled to be linked by early 2009 in the first phase of a planned single-system oil pipeline crossing all Russia, Viktor Khristenko, minister for industry and energy, said on Thursday. The national network will build to pump 80 million tons a year. Khristenko said the system was necessary to achieve the two strategic goals of comprehensive regional development and diversification of energy export routes. "Having implemented the new project in accordance with Russia’s energy strategy, we will be able to fully meet the needs of oil companies necessitated by an increase in the throughput capacity of infrastructure facilities of the fuel and energy sector," the minister said. A decree has been signed defining stages of the system's construction. The first takes a line through Taishet, Ust-Kuta and Kazachinskoye in the Irkutsk region to Tynda and Skovorodino in the region of Amur. Throughput capacity will be 30 million tons, funded by Transneft’s oil transportation system. Construction will begin after a technical and economic feasibility study is prepared. The first stage is expected to complete in the second half of 2008. The second stage takes the route between Skovorodino and Primorye region's Perevoznaya Bay, to carry up to 50 million tons of oil a year. Building time will be determined under a program for using hydrocarbon resources in eastern Siberia and the Far East approved by Russia’s ministry for natural resources. A working group will be appointed to ensure cooperation between federal bodies, overseeing monitoring and control of design and construction. Andrei Reus, deputy minister for industry and energy, will head the team.