Rosneft launches new scheme for exporting oil using supertankers

The oil company Rosneft is set to begin construction tomorrow of a new, and for Russia technologically unique, system for exporting petroleum using supertankers. As reported to Rosbalt by the company's press center, the project will allow Russia to increase its oil exports by 8 to 10 million tons per year.

In accordance with the scheme, oil will be loaded onto smaller tankers in the port of Arkhangelsk, transferred to a floating oil depot, then loaded onto supertankers with a displacement of 200,00 tons, which will in turn be able to deliver Russian petroleum to European and American ports.

The supertanker, named 'Belokamenka,' is currently at the Murmansk yard. It is the largest tanker in Russia, with a capacity of 360 million tons, a length of 350 meters, a width of 50 meters, and a height of nearly 40 meters.

A ceremony will take place tomorrow aboard the tanker to mark the launch of the project, which will include the directors of Rosneft, a representative of the Russian president for the northwest federal district, Ilya Khlebanov, the governor of Murmansk region, Yuri Evdokimov, and the director of the Federal Transport Agency, Viacheslav Ruksha.

In the company's estimation, the use of the tankers will allow the export of northern oil from the port of Komi, and the Prirazlomnovo and Vankorskovo oil fields (Krasnoyarsk region). In this manner, the oil transport cycle, 'from well to tanker,' will be closed.

Additionally, in order to bring the scheme into operation the company is renovating its oil terminal station in Arkhangelsk. Following completion of the first phase of the reconstruction, the base's capacity was increased to 2.5 million tons annually. The second phase will likewise have a capacity of 2.5 million tons annually, and will come online in 2005. In 2004, the company hopes to process more than 2.1 million tons of petroleum from the Timano-Pechorskoi oil field region.

In accordance with its business plan for 2004, Rosneft intends to increase production of its oil-based products by 14%, and its oil storage and transport capacity by 13.5%. Total turnover through the company's market network and oil terminals will reach 22.2 million tons annually.