Putin Wants to Build Gas Pipeline to Pacific, As Well As Oil Pipeline

Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS

Moscow, 22 December: Russia President Vladimir Putin has said Russia must build not just an oil pipeline, but also a gas pipeline to the Pacific Ocean.

“Only yesterday we were discussing a route to the Pacific. Up to now the discussions have mostly been about an oil pipeline. But gas routes are not out of the question either,” the head of state told a meeting of the [Russian] Security Council.

“This is the next stage in bringing our energy resources to the Asia-Pacific market.”"We definitely have to think about this now,” Putin stressed, adding that he had discussed this subject with ministers and representatives of oil companies [on 20 December].