8 september 2011

Vladimir Putin holds a videoconference with the village of Vitim in the area of the Talakan oil and gas condensate field in Yakutia during his trip to Russky Island

Participants:

During the videoconference, the prime minister instructed Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin and CEOs of Rosneft and TNK-BP to develop the oil refining industry in Siberia and Russia's Far East in order to reduce fuel prices. "We must develop oil refining in Siberia and Russia's Far East, the Primorye and Khabarovsk territories," Mr Putin said. The prime minister added that the regions producing millions of tonnes of oil annually still had to pay exorbitant prices for fuel while the demand remained high.

"I suggest we do the following: you will talk to the companies' partners and hold a meeting at the Ministry of Energy in Moscow to outline plans for oil processing in Primorye and the Far East that will help stabilise regional prices," the prime minister told Igor Sechin.

For his part, the deputy prime minister reported that Surgutneftegaz had already started supplies of asphalt bitumen for road construction and would begin producing diesel fuel in the near future. In addition, Surgutneftegaz has undertaken the construction of social and cultural facilities. The company finished the construction of the first block of flats in the village of Vitim as well as a school and a kindergarten. "New residents will be able to move into the second block of flats developed by Transneft by the end of the month," Mr Sechin said. The deputy prime minister added that Surgutneftegaz was also building roads, docks and a runway over two kilometres long in the village of Talakan. "This will create new opportunities for the region's residents," Mr Sechin stressed.

During the videoconference, Surgutneftegaz CEO Vladimir Bogdanov reported to Mr Putin that the oil production in the Talakan oil field was expected to reach 5.3 million tonnes in 2011. The project investments as well as social infrastructure development costs and license expenses have already totaled 217 billion roubles, Mr Bogdanov said. Over 8,200 people are currently involved in the field exploration.

TNK-BP executive director German Khan reported to the prime minister on the exploration of the Verkhnechonsk oil field, which is being developed in collaboration with Rosneft. This year's expected production is 5.4 million tonnes, according to Khan. By 2016, the annual production volume will reach 7.5 million tonnes. "Total investments for the whole period of the field exploration will amount to $5 billion. Currently, the expenses are around 160 billion roubles," Mr Khan said.

Rosneft President Eduard Khudainatov informed Mr Putin that the Vankor oil and gas condensate field exploration had reached its payback period. "With the support from you and the government, the Vankor project has proved financially viable in the current macroeconomic situation," Khudainatov said. Rosneft head emphasised that the field development was proceeding ahead of schedule and the oil production volumes would reach 15 million tonnes this year, with 17 million tonnes expected in 2012 and 25 million tonnes in 2013. The total investment in the project, according to Khudainatov, has exceeded 350 billion roubles.

Transneft CEO Nikolai Tokarev told the prime minister that the second leg of the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline would be completed on Friday. "The last seam of ESPO-2, near the port of Kozmino, will be welded tomorrow. The oil pipeline is scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter next year, which is about two years ahead of schedule," Tokarev said. The maximum pipeline capacity, he said, could reach 50 million tonnes per year. "Our potential capacities will be enough for the growing eastern oil exports," Transneft head promised.

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Before the videoconference, Vladimir Putin viewed the information boards on the future of the gas industry in the east of Russia.