The Russian White Sea port of Vitino will resume loading oil on Wednesday after customs and supply problems halted shipments for nearly seven weeks, port officials said. The port, which has seen declining volumes as shippers move to other outlets in Russia's north-west, last loaded a tanker on December 17. Chutchenko had earlier forecast 2005 volumes of between 7 million and 12 million tonnes of oil. Firms such as TNK, Rosneft, LUKOIL and YUKOS loaded a total of 3.7 million tonnes of oil at Vitino in 2004, down from 5.7 million tonnes in 2003.

Vitino's location in the White Sea, ice-bound for much of the year, means a long trip round the massive Kola peninsula. Ports on the Baltic or Barents Seas give readier access to European markets, as does Russia's pipeline network.

The coast around Murmansk has become a key oil export outlet for Russia as it struggles to squeeze out booming output that hit post-Soviet highs of over 9.4 million bpd last year.

And it is likely to be central to Russia's plans to boost energy exports to the United States as it provides an unfrozen and quick route to the US east coast.

Vitino plans to take 100,000-tonne tankers from August, when it finishes a programme to deepen approaches. But growing regional exports may not benefit the port.

Copyright Reuters, 2005