Tainted Russian oil has been fully removed from the Unecha-Polotsk oil pipeline, BelTA learned from Deputy Director - Chief Engineer at OAO Polotsktransneft Druzhba Mikhail Borovoy.

"OAO Polotsktransneft Druzhba has completed another phase of the roadmap to replace the oil contaminated with organic chlorides in the pipelines on the Belarusian territory for standard-quality oil. The oil not compliant with the quality standards has been pumped from the Unecha-Polotsk 2 pipeline to Russia via the Surgut-Polotsk oil pipeline," Mikhail Borovoy noted.

A batch of quality oil together with a pipeline pig reached the line operation dispatcher station Polotsk of OAO Polotsktransneft Druzhba at 10.30 on 23 July.

"Now that this phase over, we will be able to transport standard-quality oil to Naftan oil refinery via two branches of the Unecha-Polotsk oil pipeline," Mikhail Borovoy explained.

Work to clean the Belarusian section of the Surgut-Polotsk oil pipeline continues.

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.

BELARUSIAN NEWS