The first batch of crude oil, delivered by Kazakhstan via the Atasu - Alashankow pipeline, has reached China. Thus, official exploitation of the oil pipeline was set up, Trend reports citing RBK.
The President of Transneft, Semen Vaynshtok, announced on 25 April the amount of deliveries by the Russian companies via the Atasu - Alashankow oil pipeline will comprise 1.3 million tons in 2006.
The construction of the 988km-long Atasu - Alashankow oil pipeline with the diameter of 0.81m started in September 2004. The project with cost of $800m was implemented by CNPC and KazMunayGas, which united within the Kazakhstan-China pipeline company. The financial expenses were undertaken by China.