The Druzhba Pipeline is a new element in the dialog between Russia and Belarus.
Photo: Viktor Tolochko
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No Oil through Friendship Pipeline
Oil supplies to Europe through the Druzhba (Friendship) Pipeline have been cut off. Television channel Vesti 24 reports that the shutoff was ordered by the Belarusian state Belneftekhim company. Minsk denies that information.
The Polish Minister of the Economy and the local operator PERN first made the shutoff known. Druzhba is the largest Russian oil pipeline. It supplies Poland and Germany. PERN has sent a letter to Belarus demanding an explanation. Company representative Tomasz Zakrzewsi stated that Warsaw has yet to determine the cause of the situation.
Belneftekhim spokesman Viktor Azarov declined to comment on the cessation of oil supplies to Poland. “The contents of the pipeline are confidential,” Azarov stated. “Ask Transneft.”
Polish politicians are inclined to link the problem with the Russian-Belarusian disagreement over transport fees. Before the New Year, supplies of oil from Russia to Belarus were free from duties. On January 1, Moscow imposed a duty of $180.70 per ton of oil. On January 3, it became known that Belarus had also imposed a fee of $45 per ton on the transportation of Russian oil across Belarusian territory.
The Belarusian Customs Committee has also stated that it had prepared documents on violations of customs procedures for oil transportation and nonpayment of customs duties by Transneft head Semen Vainshtok.
Last year, 90 million tons of transit oil were pumped across Belarus.
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