MOSCOW, May 19. /TASS/. Russia is ready to increase oil supplies to China via Kazakhstan by 2.5 million tons, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters.
"This is a proposal from the Chinese side, and, accordingly, we are ready to ensure such supplies. But for this, certain technological solutions will need to be implemented. Through Kazakhstan. Certain measures must be taken in the area of pipeline transport. I think Transneft (Russian oil pipeline operator - TASS) will have to form an exact list of measures. We are currently working on it," he said.
Earlier, the Russian government approved a draft protocol on amendments to the intergovernmental agreement with China, which provides for the possibility of increasing Russian oil supplies to China by 2.5 million tons.
According to the intergovernmental agreement, the priority route for oil supplies to China is the Skovorodino-Mohe pipeline, but the countries can also determine other transportation routes in addition to the volumes along this route to supply refineries in the western part of China. The new changes suggest increasing the permissible volumes of supplies in other directions to 7-12.5 million tons from 7-10 million tons.
It is also proposed to extend the delivery period to 5-20 years from the previously specified 5-10 years, starting from January 2014.
According to the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, in 2024, China imported 108.47 million tons of oil from Russia. Novak said earlier that Russia would increase supplies of oil, pipeline gas and LNG to China in 2025 compared to 2024.