There are no grounds to anticipate an emergency; the supplies will be stable, Premier Fradkov told reporters in reply to a question about the likelihood of disruptions in oil shipments from Russia.
Mr Fradkov pointed out that to the Chinese side, the construction of an oil pipeline from Russia was a matter of great importance. According to him, feasibility studies are currently being conducted for the project. They are discussed at the level of the Industries & Energy Ministry and associated companies, he said.
But the Premier stopped short of specifying which route Russia was going to choose for its new eastbound pipeline.
Earlier, Industries & Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko reported at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that materials on the so-called Oriental project had been put together and were now undergoing expert examination. "After holding all due tests, the government will be able to consider the Oriental Project's figures and make a decision on it," Mr Khristenko said.
In late April, Vice Premier Alexander Zhukov assured that by the end of 2004, the Russian government would make a final decision as the route of the new oil pipeline from Angarsk to the Asian-Pacific region. The options under consideration include Angarsk-Nakhodka, Angarsk-Daqing, and Angarsk-Nakhodka branching off to Daqing.
Mr Khristenko told the media that Russia and China were planing to sign an agreement on cooperation in the gas industry and on supplies of crude oil.
The sides agree that cooperation in the gas sector and crude oil supplies are areas of long-term partnership. They are of strategic nature, and so the creation of a regulatory basis for them is an absolutely indispensable prerequisite, Mr Khristenko pointed out.
According to the minister, the Russian side has asked the Chinese to furnish China's energy strategy so that Russian companies and the Russian government could orient themselves.
