Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft's Purpe-Samotlor pipeline is the latest in a line of new links the energy giant has created to help meet China's growing energy consumption and oil importation requirements.

It is scheduled to come on stream in 2012 and will initially carry 25 million tonnes a year of oil. The company forecasts capacity to double in future.

"China is anxious to make sure it does not depend on one place for energy security," says Kingsmill Bond, chief strategist at private