The Russian Railways and its leader Vladimir Yakunin do not believe that a takeover of the Arctic railway line will be economically viable, RIA Novosti reports. The company leader this week confirmed to journalists that both the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Transport now have given up the idea of making the Russian Railways buy the line, Oilru.com reports.
It was Premier Putin who last year proposed that Gazprom sells the railway line to the Russian Railways. Gazprom subsequently offered the railway line to the company for a sum of 130 billion RUB.
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However, the railway company found the price “unrealistic”, and the federal Finance Ministry showed no interest in helping with the funding, RIA Novosti reported.
-Both Gazprom and we understand that a takeover of the line will not be economically viable, Yakunin says to the press.
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Gazprom is about to finish the construction of the Ob-Bovanenkovo line, which will become a key transport route for both equipment and personnel to huge gas fields in the Yamal Peninsula. The 573 km long railway line has five stops and a total of 70 bridges, Gazprom’s website informs.
