February 2013, Vol. 240 No. 2

Projects

Transneft Plans To Open Historic Pipeline

Transneft plans to shortly open the country’s first oil pipeline to reach the Pacific coast in a bid to widen Russia’s supply to Asian markets.

The East-Siberia-Pacific-Ocean, or ESPO, pipeline will almost double Russian deliveries from the oil port of Komino to 25 million metric tons per year. More oil could flow into the pipeline starting in 2016 when oil producers expect to launch new fields in Eastern Siberia and Yamal. China has bought about a third of Kozmino’s shipments so far this year.

Leaders of Bulgaria and Serbia signed an agreement for the first gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Serbia. The Nis-Dimitrovgrad-Sofia pipeline will contribute to the security of gas supply of the countries. This is particularly important given that both nations were severely affected by the 2009 gas supply disruption.

The bi-directional pipeline is also critical to the development of the gas market of the entire region and is part of the Energy Community Gas Ring concept promoted by the European Commission. The investment for the 180-km pipeline, with a capacity of 1.8 Bcm/a, is 100-120 million Euro.

Completion of project design and the start of construction is expected by July 2014 with the first gas flowing by the end of 2015.