MOSCOW, July 9: Construction work will begin next year on a much-anticipated pipeline to deliver crude oil directly from Siberia to China, Russia’s energy minister said on Monday, according to news reports.

Speaking in Beijing, Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said the first payment for the Chinese branch of a trunk pipeline that links Siberia to Russia’s east coast was received in June, paving the way for construction work to begin.

“Construction will begin when the design work is complete,” Khristenko was quoted by the Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies as saying.

“Under the contact this should be completed within 208 days after the first payment is made by the Chinese side to finance the project,” said Khristenko, who is in Beijing for talks with Chinese officials on energy cooperation. —AFP