China to get its Oil

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he supports plans by Russian Railways Co. to boost
crude oil exports to China using railway routes, according reports.

Russian Railways, the state-owned rail monopoly, may export as much as 30 million
tons per year (600,000 barrels per day) of oil to China after the railway company
upgrades the railroad running through continental Asia's second-longest tunnel, the
company said earlier this month.

Russia plans to double total crude oil exports via the railway to 6.5 million tons
this year. Russian oil deliveries to China may increase to 8 million tons next year
and to 12 million tons in 2006.