Transneft' : Transneft Urals performs works on temporary relocation of sections of UBKUA (Ust-Balyk-Kurgan-Ufa-Almetievsk) and NKK (Nizhnevartovsk-Kurgan-Kuybyishev) oil trunk pipelines outside the area of Bereznyakovskiy open cast collapse

Executing the decision of the Committee of Chelyabinsk Region Government for Emergency Prevention and Response dated December 20, 2016, Transneft Urals performs works on temporary relocation of sections of Ust-Balyk-Kurgan-Ufa-Almetievsk (UBKUA) and Nizhnevartovsk-Kurgan-Kuybyishev (NKK) oil trunk pipelines outside the area of collapse of Bereznyakovskiy open cast developed by Uzhuralzoloto (UGC). The works will be finished before March 30, 2017.

Besides, additional line valves for emergency shutdown of oil streams in case of oil pipelines' break, which may occur upon the open cast collapse, have already been assembled at the oil pipelines. Relocation (at the first stage - temporary, further - permanent) of sections of UBKUA and NKK oil trunk pipelines outside the area of the open casts development of Bereznyakovskoe gold field will allow eliminating the threat of this strategic facility's integrity violation.

Bereznyakovskiy open cast is developed by UGC in immediate proximity to two federal large oil trunk pipelines, pumping a third part of Russian exported oil and oil for Russian refineries - more than 300 thousand tons a day. UBKUA oil trunk pipeline was commissioned in 1973; NKK oil trunk pipeline, located at the distance of 12 metres from UBKUA, was commissioned in 1976. Development of Bereznyakovskiy open cast started in 1990-s.

At the present time its side is located at the distance of 43 metres from UBKUA oil trunk pipeline, i.e. within the limits of minimum allowed distance zone, and the ground split, which occurred because of the open cast's wall collapse, is located at the distance of 22.5 metres from the oil pipeline. The measures on the open cast's side strengthening suggested by UGC earlier would allow the gold workers to come 15 metres nearer to the pipelines, which would just increase the threat for the strategic facilities. Besides, UGC representatives said more than once that the main ore reserves are concentrated directly under the pipelines. Consequently, the open cast's side strengthening was inexpedient from the point of view of UGC, and the UGC heads try to shift the fault from themselves for violations upon the open cast's development with the help of corresponding public statements.

Permanent relocation of sections of UBKUA and NKK oil trunk pipelines, located in the area of the open casts development of Bereznyakovskoe gold field, is planned for 2019; at the present time design and survey works are conducted. In connection with the threat of emergency shutdown of oil trunk pipelines, financing of all the works is performed at the present time at the expense of Transneft Urals. These expenses should be compensated by UGC, which seriously infringed the requirements of the Russian laws upon the open cast development. The violation was recorded by the decision of Etkulsky District Court of Chelyabinsk Region, which stopped the activities of UGC in Bereznyakovskiy open cast for 60 days on December 23, 2016.