Putin Discusses Development Plans of Transneft Company with Its Head

Russian President Vladimir Putin had on Thursday a working meeting with Transneft head Semyon Vainshtok.

The Russian leader was interested in the company's development plans. The head of Transneft told him that despite a difficult start of the year "the system is fully operational, taking all problems of the oil industry in its stride".

Vainshtok said that the cabinet had discussed the Murmansk route, the Baltic pipeline system, and oil transit across Kazakhstan to Iran, stressing it was the main avenue of development.

He also pointed out that on March 17 the government adopted a decision to develop the Baltic pipeline system.

The head of Transneft said that the project employed 2,000 workers who have already welded about 200 kilometres of pipe.

At the same time, he said that the flood situation is now such that it prevents large-sized cargoes to be transported across swollen rivers. On the other hand, according to Vainshtok, in July of this year the new system plans to start pumping 6 million tons, and by the end of the year another 13 million tons. In the first quarter of next year, a further 12 million tons will be added to the shipped quantities, said the head of Transneft

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