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Russia’s Crude Floods to Europe
Europe can breathe freely again. Late Wednesday, Belarus resumed transit of Russia’s crude to Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary.
The so-called black gold from Russia reached Belarus’ pipelines at around 10:30 p.m., local time (11:30 p.m. MSK), said Alexey Kostyuchenko, director of Gomeltransneft-Druzhba pipeline operator of Belarus.
Poland received Russia’s crude at around 9:30 p.m. local time (11:30 p.m. MSK), confirmed the briefer of PERN Przyjazn, Poland’s operator of Druzhba pipeline, adding they hope to restore standard pressure during two hours from re-start of deliveries.
Crude deliveries via Ukrainian branch of Druzhba pipeline were resumed, announced Ukrtransnafta, Druzhba’s transit monopoly of Ukraine. “Crude’s shipment via the southern branch of Druzhba recommenced in full at 11:00 p.m. local time (12:00 p.m. MSK),” the company’s representatives confirmed.
The supplies were resumed following January 10 decision of Belarus’ government to abolish the transit duties on Russia’s crude.
The shipment was terminated January 8 on unauthorized withdrawal of crude by Belarus. Russia refused to pay the transit duties that Belarus imposed January 1, 2007 in the amount of $45 per a ton of crude and Belarus started taking the crude from the pipeline with no sanction of the Kremlin.
www.kommersant.com
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Photo: Sergey Semenov