In the frozen taiga of eastern Siberia, where bears roam in spring after waking from hibernation, an independent Russian oil company is bucking the domestic industry trend by rapidly ramping up its output and expanding operations. Irkutsk Oil Company, known by the Russian acronym INK, has increased its crude production levels 30-fold over the past decade and has negotiated access to a pipeline network that allows it reach the Asian market. The company told Reuters it is planning investments worth $3-$4 billion over the next three years, including developing its gas business by building four processing plants. INK stands out in the Russian oil sector, more than half of which is in state ownership, and […]