Pres spox: Min sees no Transneft guilt behind poor oil quality

MOSCOW, May 8 (PRIME) -- A report by Energy Minister Alexander Novak presented on Tuesday does not contain evidence of any wrongdoing by oil pipeline monopoly Transneft in recent oil contamination, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

“As far as you know, the government discussed this yesterday. And yesterday, Novak reported on the situation. You must have seen that there was no remark on any wrongdoing by the executives of Transneft or the company,” Peskov said.

He also said that that a private contractor is investigated and several people were detained on suspicion of oil pollution.

The problem with the quality of oil coming from Russia to Europe across Belarus via the Druzhba pipeline appeared in mid-April. As oil contaminated with chlorides moved through the pipes, Poland stopped receiving the black gold from Druzhba on April 24, and Ukraine on April 25. Good-quality oil started coming from Russia to Belarus on May 2.

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