Russia to extend crude pipeline to Austria.(Yukos, OMV; supply contract)(Brief Article)

Yukos and Austria's OMV have signed a memorandum of understanding for supply of up to 100,000 b/d of crude to OMV's 180,000 b/d Schwechat refinery near Vienna. Deliveries will start at 40,000 b/d in January 2006--after completion of a planned 60km link from the Slovakian section of the Druzhba pipeline--for an initial period of 10 years.

The supplies will allow OMV to cut crude shipments along the Adria-Vienna pipeline from Trieste. "This will bring us cost advantages on both the product and logistics side," OMV says.

The pipeline's initial capacity has been set at 72,000 b/d, potentially rising to 100,000 b/d. It remains unclear who will carry out the …