Kazakhstan To Double Oil Pipeline Capacity To Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev in the Kremlin today (epa) April 4, 2006 -- Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has pledged to more than double the capacity of a pipeline transporting crude oil from his country to Russia.

After talks with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today, Nazarbaev said both sides had agreed to widen the capacity of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). The 1,500-kilometer pipeline transports oil from fields in western Kazakhstan to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.

Putin added there were opportunities for bilateral cooperation in nuclear power as well.

The Kazakh leader arrived in Moscow yesterday on a three-day visit. He is to address Russia's State Duma tomorrow.

(AP)