MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's Energy Minister has approved a resolution allowing oil firms to switch to annual oil export plans from the previous quarterly schedules in a move designed to improve long-term planning.

A ministry's resolution obtained by Reuters and signed by minister Viktor Khristenko calls on oil firms and countries shipping oil via Russia, such as Kazakhstan, to submit annual oil export schedules 35 days before the start of the period.
The resolution, however, says that changes to the annual plan will still be available on a quarterly basis depending on the throughput capacity of the national pipeline monopoly Transneft.
The resolution did not say when it would come into force, but traders said the trial annual schedule is already being compiled and may come into force as of the second quarter.
""It may seem a big change, this switch, but in fact not much will change given that quarterly schedules will remain in place,"" said a trader with a Russian major.
Some Russian oil firms have also requested a re-introduction of the practice of oil flow coordination on specific routes.
Sources have said Russia's second largest oil firm LUKOIL has supported the system of coordinators, saying it would help generate better prices from the buyers, referring to its protracted dispute with the monopoly importer of Russian crude to Germany, Sunimex.
The ministry's resolution made no mention of introducing oil export coordinators.