Russia is rolling back plans to significantly boost oil exports via its new Baltic pipeline, Transneft spokesman Igor Dyomin said Thursday, suggesting that current transit country Belarus can continue collecting fees.
Russia had initially planned to ship annually about 30 million tons of oil (600,000 barrels per day) through the first phase of the Baltic Pipeline System-2, starting from 2012, to bypass Belarus. "The first stage will carry 10 million tons in 2012, the second stage will be launched in 2013," Dyomin said.
He said that to fill the 1,000-kilometer long link, Transneft would divert 5 million tons of oil from the Polish port of Gdansk and another 5 million tons from Russia's Baltic Sea port of Primorsk. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia is close to signing a new gas contract with Belarus.
(Reuters)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
