Russia Unconcerned Over Belarus Threats

摘要

Russia expressed little concern over threats from neighboring Belarus to shut down the Druzhba pipeline,which ships some 1 million b/d of Russian crude to Europe.Industry players believe the statements from Minsk are more politically motivated and unlikely to cause any major disruptions.Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Apr.11 threatened to shut down the Druzhba pipeline for repairs without asking for any permission from Moscow,if necessary(IOD Apr.12’19).But a spokesman for Russian national oil pipeline monopoly Transneft said that the company’s Diascan diagnostics system has been testing the Druzhba pipeline for the past several years and this didn’t reveal any major faults that require pipeline shutdowns.Transneft also said it was ready to provide the necessary assistance to Minsk with maintenance along the Druzhba pipeline.