"The share of Asia-Pacific countries receiving Russian oil exports is forecast to increase from the current 3% to 30% in 2020 (up to 100 mln metric tons), and natural gas export from 5% to at least 25% (up to 65 bln cu m)," Andrei Dementyev said.
He said the figures could be reached if eastern energy projects are implemented and energy production developed on Sakhalin off the country's Pacific Coast.
Dementyev said a program for the development of natural gas resources in East Siberia and the Far East would be submitted to the Russian government in 2006.
"Under this program, a single system of gas production, transportation and supplies will be created in the Russian region, with account for exports to the markets of China and other Asia-Pacific countries," he said.
He said the annual natural gas production forecast in the eastern regions was 150 billion cubic meters by 2030.
Dementyev also said the construction of the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline was another important project.
Construction on the ESPO, preliminarily estimated at $11.5 billion, began in April 2006. Since then, more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) have been laid and 330 kilometers (205 miles) have been prepared for pipe installation. The pipeline is expected to pump 80 mln metric tons of oil per year, including 30 mln tons to energy-hungry China.
