Belarus says Russia pumps good oil via northern Druzhba thread

MINSK, Apr 24 (PRIME) -- Russia has started pumping good-quality oil through the northern thread of the Druzhba pipeline to oil refinery Naftan in Belarus, a representative of Belarusian state oil and petrochemical holding Belneftekhim told PRIME on Wednesday.

“Today pumping of oil that meets technological standards started through the northern thread of the Druzhba pipeline to satisfy Naftan’s needs. Polotsktransneft Druzhba has registered oil at its metering stations,” the spokesperson said.

The exports ensure operations of Naftan with a reduced load of capacities. Previously, the refinery had to cut its loading by 50% because of a poor quality of Russian oil.

Belneftekhim Deputy CEO Vladimir Sizov said on April 21 that the company had temporarily reduced exports of oil products from Belarus because of a rapid worsening of the quality of oil it receives from Russia. On Monday, the Mozyr oil refinery in Belarus blamed poor-quality Russian oil for a failure of its equipment. Belarus asked to raise exports of non-contaminated oil to the Naftan refinery through the northern thread of the Druzhba pipe to compensate for poor oil.

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