About 1.2Mln Tonnes Of Contaminated Russian Oil Remain In Belarus - Belneftekhim

Approximately 1.2 million of tonnes of chlorides-contaminated Russian oil still remain on Belarusian territory, Head of Belneftekhim concern Andrey Rybakov said on Tuesday

MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st May, 2019) Approximately 1.2 million of tonnes of chlorides-contaminated Russian oil still remain on Belarusian territory, Head of Belneftekhim concern Andrey Rybakov said on Tuesday.

The problem with the quality of oil coming from Russia to Belarus through Druzhba pipeline of the Russian state-owned Transneft oil transport monopoly arose in April. Poland and Ukraine halted oil transit from Russia via Belarus after it was discovered that the transported oil was contaminated with chlorides. Russia launched an investigation into the matter and has so far detained four people over the incident.

Uncontaminated Russian oil reached the Belarusian border in early May.

"Unfortunately, a significant volume of oil that does not meet [standards] for the level of chlororganics � about 1.2 million of tonnes � remains on the territory of our country," Rybakov told Belarus 1 tv channel, adding that there must be no low-quality Russian oil in Belarus by late July.

Rybakov also noted that in May Belarus was expected to provide less than 7 percent of the planned volume of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline due to the oil quality issue.