I'd like to say a few words about our pipeline routes, Putin noted. I hope you will understand me, if I say absolutely openly and frankly that we must be guided by our national interests, first and foremost; we must develop the Russian Federation's eastern territories, as well as Far Eastern territories, Putin told his interlocutors. Consequently, we must plan and implement large-scale infrastructure-related projects there, the Russian leader went on to say.
In his words, the final decision will be adopted in line with these considerations.
Meanwhile we heed the interests of our partners, as well, Putin stressed.
China, which consumes fuel and energy, also wants the transport infrastructure, including pipelines, to develop in other areas, rather than eastern Russia alone, Putin said. Moreover, China wants its development to provide a good incentive for additional prospecting operations, so that Russian fuel-and-energy resources could be evaluated in full volume.
In his opinion, this is something essential, so that Chinese consumers could know the exact amount of Russian fuel-and-energy resources that could be received by Chinese enterprises, as well as specific deadlines, in accordance with Chinese economic-development plans.
We are going to discuss all these aspects with our Chinese friends in an absolutely candid manner; and I'm sure that we'll find specific mutually acceptable decisions, Putin noted.
According to the Russian leader, Russia maintains absolutely open dialogue with its Chinese partners. We know that China would like to get Russian fuel-and-energy resources on a regular basis, Putin noted; Russia, too, would like China to be a reliable and stable partner requiring additional fuel and energy, the Russian head of state went on to say.
No political, ideological or economic problems can prevent Russia and the People's Republic of China from expanding their fuel-and-energy cooperation, Putin stressed.
Russia develops its nuclear power industry and thermal power plants rather actively, Putin noted. We are ready to expand our cooperation in the power-generation field still further, Putin added. We would like to cooperate with China; and we are going to cooperate with China in the context of its northern, north-western and north-east territories' development; moreover, we'll cooperate in the field of fuel-and-energy deliveries, Putin stressed.
Russia's Economic Development and Trade Minister Gherman Gref said in late September that it would take six years to build an oil pipeline for linking Russia with China.
In his words, a feasibility study of the Taishet - Pacific coast oil pipeline is currently being examined; that pipeline might also snake into China. This pipeline project has already been examined by environmentalists.
Two oil-pipeline projects were discussed last year. One such pipeline was to have linked Angarsk with the city of Daqing, China. Meanwhile the Angarsk-Nakhodka pipeline would make it possible to deliver oil to Japan. However, both pipeline routes were rejected as a result of the Natural Resources Ministry's expert check.
As of today, the Transneft pipeline company has finalized a project for building an oil pipeline between Taishet and Bukhta Perevoznaya on the Pacific coast. This project is currently being discussed.
