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Belarus, Russia finalize roadmap on draining poor-quality oil from Druzhba pipeline

Belneftekhim. An archive photo

MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – A roadmap of measures to replace poor-quality Russian oil has been completely agreed by the Belarusian and Russian sides, BelTA learned from representatives of the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim.

According to the source, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Lyashenko and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak met in Moscow today and agreed the roadmap of technical measures, which will allow replacing oil polluted with chlororganic chlorides and staying in the Belarusian part of the Druzhba pipeline with pure oil. The measures will also allow resuming oil transit in the western direction.

Representatives of Belneftekhim and the Russian Federation Energy Ministry took part in the negotiations as well.

The sides are expected to get down to the practical implementation of the roadmap tomorrow – 24 May.

On 19 April Belneftekhim registered a massive decrease in the quality of the Russian oil mixture Urals flowing in transit into the main oil pipeline section operated by OAO Polotsktransneft Druzhba. The concentration of chlororganic compounds in oil exceeded standard thresholds dozens of times over. Both Belarusian oil refineries – OAO Naftan and Mozyr Oil Refinery – were forced to reduce their workload and have experienced financial losses. Naftan is still operating at 65% of its capacity. The oil pipeline system Druzhba is designed to deliver oil to Belarusian oil refineries and transport oil to Europe in transit via Belarus in two directions – via Poland and via Ukraine.

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