Baltic Pipeline System-2 to cost more than expected
Transneft has upgraded the cost estimate of the construction of the Baltic Pipeline System-2 (BPS-2), the RBC Daily newspaper reported today, citing the Russian oil transportation company's prospectus for a Eurobond offering. According to the document, capital expenses on the construction of BPS-2 are expected to total RUB 95.143bn (approx. USD 4.08bn). This is one and a half times as much as the original estimate of USD 2bn - USD 2.5bn, which was made when the idea of building a pipeline around Belarus was conceived. The price rise can be attributed to the dollar's depreciation, as well as to an increase in prices for building materials and the services of contractors.