OREANDA-NEWS. On 09 June 2008 was announced, that the Eastern Siberian – Pacific Ocean pipeline passed its 2,000th kilometer. At the Talakan – Olekminsk and Aldan – Tynda sections of the pipeline, the next cut points of linear part of the first ESPO pipeline startup complex were welded.

All construction and assembly operations are conducted in strict compliance with the network schedule as approved by the RF Ministry of Transportation and Energy. The schedule provides for commissioning of the oil pipeline system in Q4 2009. Simultaneously alongside the entire pipeline an intensive construction of complex infrastructure is underway (transmission lines, roads, reservoirs, oil pumping stations, disposal facilities and other objects of environmental security, communications and automation facilities).

As reported by a subsidiary of Transneft – OOO TSUP VSTO (acting as a customer) – by ther end of today 2,266 km of the pipeline has already been prepared. A significant reserve has been established to fulfill the current production plans.

The phase 1 construction of ESPO pipeline (from Taishet to Skovorodino) was launched at the end of 2006; in July 2007, the cut point was welded at the 1,000th kilometer of the pipeline. Its total length is nearly 2,700 kilometers.