Tuesday, 29 December 2009

From 
December 29, 2009

Vladimir Putin unveils gateway to East with new oil export terminal

The frozen hand of a statue of Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Soviet Union, shows the way as temperatures fall below minus 30C (-22F) in Yakutsk, 3,000 miles (4,800km) east of Moscow.

Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, opened an oil export terminal in the Far Eastern port of Kozmino to serve as a gateway for energy exports to Asia.

Russia has been seeking new markets for its energy exports, most of which have gone to Europe. In January Europeans were left without heat after Russia shut off gas supplies to Ukraine.(AP)