Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Russia

Russia's Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Over Baikal Pipeline

Russia's Lake Baikal (file photo) (AFP)

March 9, 2006 -- Russia's Supreme Court today rejected an appeal brought by environmental groups over the routing of a key Siberian pipeline.

Russian Agency Backs Pipeline Said To Threaten Lake Baikal

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March 09, 2006

Environmental groups say the pipeline will endanger the world's largest freshwater lake, Lake Baikal.

The 4,100-kilometer pipeline is to run to Russia's Pacific Coast, enabling Russia to increase oil exports to China, Japan, and South Korea.

The state-controlled Transneft company is building the $11 billion Kremlin-backed project.

Environmentalists had also argued that members of the regulatory agency that approved the routing had been pressured to ensure a favorable vote. Transneft denies any attempt to pressure the panel.

(ITAR-TASS, AP)

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