Russia hurry to build pipeline bypassing Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

The second phase of the Baltic pipeline system (BPS-2) can be launched under a tight schedule, Russian Prime minister Sergei Ivanov believes. “Knowing Transneft capabilities, it is feasible to construct the pipeline BPS-2 in a relatively short time, to increase volume of exported oil,” Ivanov told on Sunday to journalists in Primorsk.

He informed that government has plans to build a railway to oil-loading seaport Primorsk, and to build a gas liquefaction plant in Primorsk.

When journalists asked about details of construction a railway to Primorsk he answered that at present a related investment project is being worked through. As said by Ivanov, government is ready to invest funds in railway construction. “Everything else is pure commerce,” Ivanov said, noting that business-community is expected to invest its money.

Semyon Vianshtok, Transneft CEO stated in June that the company is ready to embark on the BPS-2 in July, in case the government would pass such a decision.

In May this year Russian Prime Minister signed a directive on construction of the second line of the Baltic pipeline system, which would allow doing without oil transit via Belarus and Poland to the EU through Druzhba pipeline completely.

The capacity of the new branch of the BPS from Unecha (Bryansk region) at the border with Belarus to Primorsk will be 50 million tons of oil a year.

The first BPS leg for transporting oil from Timan-Pechory and Western Siberian oil and gas provinces was put in operation in December 2001. Its annual capacity is 12 million tons. By December 2006 Transneft increased annual capacity of the system to 74 million tons.