In 2003 Russia Will Strive to Increase Oil Exports

Vice-premier of the Russian government Viktor Khristenko stated to journalists that in the current year like in the last one Russia would strive to increase oil exports.

Khristenko stated that lately Russia was engaged in that not only from the point of view of diversification of export directions, but from the point of view of volume growth." The vice-premier stated that "it was one of the Russia's objectives in development of oil sector." At the same time Khristenko reported that the crude export timetable for the first half of the year would not be changed. According to him, in the first quarter Russia planned to export 43 million tons to Western countries and 9.5 million tons to near abroad countries. The volume of oil production for the first quarter was approved at the level of 100.6 million tons.

Viktor Khristenko explained that the export timetable for the first quarter was presently fully in conformity with technical capabilities and technological procedures of operation of the Russian pipeline system.

Khristenko pointed out that the plans to develop the pipeline system during the year comprised the second stage of the Baltic pipeline system, reconstruction of certain sectors inside the country, development of technological oil pumping procedures.