The construction of the Purpe-Samotlor oil pipeline, which will open a new route towards the Pacific Ocean, has started in Western Siberia, not far from Nizhnevartovsk. Taking part in the ceremony, marking the welding of the first joint of this branch were Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, and also the governors of Yugra and Yamal Natalya Komarova and Dmitry Kobylkin.
The modern mainline for oil flows will take route from the Yamal oil-pumping station "Purpe" and will end at the Yugra "Samotlor" station. This branch will connect the Western and the Eastern oil pipeline systems of Russia. Opening the pipeline, Igor Sechin stressed that the construction of the new pipeline would make it possible to fill up the Eastern Siberia - Pacific Ocean Pipeline (ESPO) with oil from the new promising deposits. And the Yugra governor Natalya Komarova called the Purpe-Samotlor branch a "stage in the landmark mega-project" of Russia of the 21 century. And what matters here is not only an increase in the oil flow but also the appearance of thousands of new jobs and the development of the social structure of many villages there.
With the commissioning of the pipeline, the oil-and-gas companies of Yugra, Yamal and the Krasnoyarsk Region will have more opportunities for the supplies of raw materials not only in the traditional western but also in the eastern direction. The situation on the oil market and Russia's plans to rank as a leader on the market in the Asia-Pacific Region serves as an incentive for the reconsideration of the current transport routes. The head of the Russian Union of Oil and Gas Industrialists Gennady Shmal has a similar opinion:
"And as regards Russia's position on the market in the Pacific, the ESPO oil pipeline will play the pivotal role there. The first stage of the ESPO pipeline has already been built. A mixed option is used here. Which means that the oil pipeline runs to Skovorodino, and farther on the transportation of raw materials is carried out through the Baikal-Amur main line (BAM). The first oil tank with the East-Siberian oil was sent at the end of last year. And after the construction of the second stage - from Skovorodino to the Kozmino Bay - is completed, the ESPO pipelene will undoubtedly play a serious role in Russia's advancing to the markets in the Pacific. This direction is promising enough - meaning China, Japan and South Korea, and also a number of other countries. As soon as Russia's positions on that market are strengthened, its influence in the region will become strengthened too".
The new 429-kilometre-long pipeline will be helpful in carrying out one of the most important tasks Russia is facing today - the diversification of energy routes. But the main thing here is that thanks to the crosspiece, under construction now, Russia's oil transport system will turn into a single one. This will make it possible to distribute the flows of hydrocarbons in any direction ever across the country.
Equally important is also the fact that this project was approved by the Yamal residents. To get their approval, the Yamal authorities and oil workers held public hearings, to persuade the Yamal residents that during the construction of this branch heavy vehicles will not destroy the unique nature of this region.
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