MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - The oil capacity of the Baltic Pipeline System (BTS) may be increased 7.6% to 70 million tons a year (1.4 million barrels per day) before the end of 2006, the head of Russian pipeline monopoly Transneft said Tuesday.
"Before the end of the year, the BTS can increase its capacity to 70 million tons (514.5 million barrels)," Semyon Vainshtok said.
Russia launched the BTS in April. The system supplies Siberian oil to the Primorsk terminal, which borders on Finland, for export to Europe and the United States. The BTS' current capacity is 65 million tons.
The first stage of the BTS was opened in 2001 with a capacity of 240,000 barrel per day.
Russia's Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko earlier said the BTS project falls under the country's energy strategy to develop pipeline infrastructure on its coastline to export oil and petroleum products by sea, thereby reducing Russia's dependence on transit countries.
