Pipeliners

06.10.2008 - [Neftegaz.RU] - VSTO is one the most scaled project by Transneft. It was approved by by the Russian government as early as 2004, but the construction works bagan only two years later in April 2006. Then it was planned that the first line of the pipeline as far as Skovorodino (on the Border with China) would be opened by October-December 2008. Later it was postponed till the end of 2009. Saturday the pipeline strated working in reverse way. First oil that came through it was from Talakanskoye oil field belonging to Surgutneftegaz. Now monthly output here is 120 000 tons, by the end of the year it is expected to increase by 150 000 tons. Sechin assured that the VSTO construction will be finished by December 2009, he was echoed by Transneft Vice President Mikhail Barkov. But there are still several undecided questions. It is yet not clear whether the pipeline section to China will be built. It depends on China and Rosneft, its major oil suppllier, talks on oil delivery after 2010.