Baikal-Amur Mainline's transport capacity should be significantly boosted - Putin
YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK. March 21 (Interfax) - The transport capacity of Russia's Baikal-Amur Mainline should be increased significantly, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
"Extensive development of the Elginskoye (coal) field should start this year. A project for developing modern export infrastructure will be implemented for Sakhalin coal," Putin said at a meeting in regards to the development of the fuel and energy industry in Eastern Siberia and the Far East.
Putin said that there are enough projects in Russia that could help develop mines and quarries in the Far East. "We will support them of course. Moreover, demand for coal is high both in the country and on world markets," he added.
Putin noted the pressing need to develop port facilities and expand transportation infrastructure.
"The first order is significantly boosting the Baikal-Amur Mainline's transport capacity. The key objective here is setting up the new Kuznetsovsky tunnel. Solving all problems in relation to it will help remove limits on transporting freight to Vanino and Sovetskaya Gavan. Total investment in it comes to 59.5 billion rubles," Putin said.