Pipeliners

MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - Feasibility studies for the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Coast oil pipeline, which is to be built by Russian state-owned pipeline operator Transneft, could be approved before the end of the year, the head of Russia's Federal Energy Agency said Monday. Sergei Oganesyan told a Moscow press conference the final decision on the route and ending point of the $12-billion, 1.6-million-b/d-capacity pipeline would depend on the results of the study. Several alternative routes have been under consideration since Transneft's initial suggestion was rejected by the Natural Resources Ministry for violating environmental laws. The company had proposed that the 420,000-km pipeline run to the Pacific Coast through Lake Baikal, raising environmentalists' concerns over the possible negative impact on the UNESCO world heritage site and the source of 20% of the earth's fresh water. The proposed end point at Perevoznaya Bay also proved controversial, with wildlife groups arguing that the pipeline would damage the bay's unique ecosystem.