Oil goes East

Russia-InfoCenter ^ | January 11, 2007 | Olga Pletneva

[eastern]

Last year appeared to be turning for oil&gas industry of Russia – construction of the export pipeline towards the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region was commenced at last. At that all the country witnessed how easy the pipeline route was carried 40km, which later transformed into 400km, from the original one. The far-reaching decision was made at the meeting held in Tomsk on 26th of April: that is when Russian president declared the Eastern pipeline must go beyond the water supply protective zone of the Baikal, as the lake, which is the world biggest fresh water reservoir, is 800 metres distant from the originally planned route. Transneft, the company operating the project, assured the government that the latest technologies capable to minimize the risk of the lake pollution would be used within the course of the construction. However, the company failed to persuade the local people, who kept on protesting against the pipeline. Besides, scientists and ecologists worried about the fact that the pipeline was to cross earthquake zones of Buryatia. Having asked, if transfer of the pipeline was possible, the head of the country drew a line, representing a new route, on the map slightly further to the north. The transfer later emerged to go 40 kilometres north from the lake.

[MSF BU]

...of more long-term concern is the birth rate, which is heading south at an accelerating rate. If something isn't done to reverse this, all the oil shipments east won't be making a difference.

[RusIvan]

Ping

[M. Espinola]