COST ESTIMATES OF SIBERIAN PIPELINE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00109R000100090008-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2007
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: March 19, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 20041 C
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- R D P 84T00109I0001 00090008-4
UNITED STAT EPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Ti de Administration
Washington, O.C. 20230
MEMORANDUM FOR: Henry Rowen
National Intelligence Officer
Central Intelligence Agency
Lawrence J. Brady
Assistant Secretar
for Trade Administration
SUBJECT: Cost Estimates of Siberian Pipeline.
I have quickly reviewed the most recent C.I.A. assessment of the
Siberian pipeline. There are still a few unanswered questions
relating to cost which deserve further attention.
1. At what point does the entire project become uneconomic for
Western banks because of construction delays, Soviet failure to
deliver gas at specified volume or price, or slackness of demand
in Western Europe?
2. I have seen cost estimates for the project ranging from $22
billion to $45 billion. What would account for this wide
variation? Has CIA undertaken any assessment of the labor costs
of this project? Where will the manpower come from, given the
severe labor shortages in Siberia? Will there be sufficient
volunteers (Komsomol students, etc.) for the pipeline and
infrastructure, or will forced labor, including dissidents, be
utilized?
AaarovedFor Release 2007/04/30: CIA-RDP84TOO109RO0010009000&-4
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