MINSK, 4 July (BelTA) – OAO Polotsktransneft Druzhba has started receiving quality Russian oil intended for the Belarusian oil refinery Naftan, BelTA has learned.
In accordance with the roadmap polluted oil has been moved from the Unecha-Polotsk 1 oil pipeline (part of the oil pipeline system Druzhba) to Russia in reverse mode via the Surgut-Polotsk oil pipeline.
A batch of quality oil together with a pipeline pig reached the line operation dispatcher station Polotsk of OAO Polotsktransneft Druzhba on 3 July.
The received Russian oil matches the standard requirements. It has been confirmed by an accredited lab.
On 4 July the company started pumping oil to Naftan via the cleansed oil pipeline Unecha-Polotsk 1. Work has begun to cleanse the oil pipeline Unecha-Polotsk 2.
BelTA reported earlier that on 19 April Belneftekhim registered a massive decrease in the quality of the Russian oil mixture Urals coming via the oil pipeline system 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 suffered financial losses.
The removal of polluted Russian oil from the Unecha-Polotsk pipeline began on 21 June. The removal of polluted oil from the first stage of the oil pipeline was supposed to be finished on 3 July. The removal of polluted oil from the second stage of the Unecha-Polotsk pipeline was supposed to begin once the first stage is cleansed and last till the end of July. The removal of polluted oil from the Belarusian section of the Surgut-Polotsk pipeline will be the final stage. It will last till 15 August.
