MOSCOW, November 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russian railroad monopoly Russian Railways (RZD) is capable of transporting about 30 million metric tons of oil annually to China, the company's head said Thursday.
Vladimir Yakunin said, "We are ready and are capable of transporting up to 30 million tons [of oil]."
He said the company was actively involved in the East Siberia-Pacific pipeline project, particularly in the construction of railroad infrastructure.
Transportation Minister Igor Levitin, however, said deliveries of more than 30 million tons via railroad would be unprofitable. He said the 2006 RZD investment program allocated 12 billion rubles ($416 million) for the transport of 15 million tons of oil to China.
At a government session earlier Thursday, Russian Prime Minster Mikhail Fradkov said, "The main thing is not to link all [export] prospects to railroads."
