OREANDA-NEWS. December 28, 2012.  JSC Transneft, the world’s largest oil pipeline company launched the second phase of the East Siberia – Pacific Ocean (ESPO-2) Oil Pipeline.

 PJSC Stroytransgaz was a major contractor of ESPO-2 project. Early in July 2012, Stroytransgaz was the first to complete 197km pipeline section. Since 2006, Stroytransgaz has participated in the major ESPO oil transportation system project. The first ESPO phase constructed by Stroytransgaz included seven extremely complicated pipeline sections of 500 km length.

 The ESPO-2 commissioning ceremony in Khabarovsk was attended by the company’s president Nikolay Tokarev. Russian President Vladimir Putin also participated in the ceremony via video conference. The President  called the completion and commissioning of the pipeline a significant event for the Russian economy. According to Vladimir Putin, the commissioning of ESPO-2 will allow us to raise the annual ESPO export turnover up to 45 mln. tons. Nikolay Tokarev added that  ESPO-2 startup finally completed the construction of the oil pipeline system connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Baltic Sea.

 The capacity of ESPO-2 will make approximately 30 mln. tons with further increase up to 50 mln. tons. The Russian Federation provides the  Asian-Pacific Region as well as the domestic market with oil.

 The first phase of ESPO was commissioned in December 2009. The construction of ESPO-2 started on January 14, 2010, two weeks after ESPO-1 commissioning, when the first tanker with the Russian oil was shipped in Kozmino Port.

 Early in November, Transneft completed crude oil linefill of ESPO-2. Another terminal with shipment capacity up to 120 thousand tons was commissioned in Kozmino as part of ESPO-2 pre-commissioning.

 ESPO-2 oil pipeline was constructed from Skovorodino in Amur Region to Kozmino, the special sea oil tanker port in Pimorsky Kray. The second phase of the pipeline crosses the territory of Amur Region, Jewish Autonomous Region, Khabarovsk Kray and Pimorsky Kray. Oil transportation between Skovorodino and Kozmino has been performed by railway so far.   

 Igor Katsal, Deputy Vice-President of Transneft, says that in 2013 the company is planning to transport approximately 21 mln. tons of oil via ESPO-2.