Transneft says may launch BTS-2 oil pipeline in late February

MOSCOW, Feb 21 (PRIME) -- Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft may launch the second phase of the Baltic Pipeline System-2 (BTS-2) as early as late February, Igor Dyomin, an official spokesman for Transneft told PRIME Tuesday.

Dyomin said that the company has nearly completed repair works at an oil terminal at the Ust-Luga port near St. Petersburg. “We are working at full capacity in preparation for the launch of the terminal. We expect it (the launch) to take place in late February or early March,” he added.

The Ust-Luga port is the destination point of the second phase of BTS-2. Surgutneftegas oil company has organized a tender to supply it with a tanker to take oil to Ust-Luga in late February. A source familiar with the situation said earlier that the pipeline could be launched on March 1.

Transneft has postponed the launch of the pipeline, meant to ensure oil supplies to Europe bypassing transit countries, twice. Russia plans to annually transport 30 million tonnes of oil, or 600,000 barrels per day, through the BTS-2 pipeline.

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