Russia To Asses In Summer Damage Related To Druzhba Pipeline Incident - Energy Minister

ST. PETERSBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2019) Russia will assess in summer the amount of damage related to the incident with contaminated Russian oil getting into the Druzhba pipeline, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

"The damage will be assessed in summer. Relevant changes will be introduced to agreements," Novak said.

The minister added that within several months a new technical regulation, tightening control of the quality of Russian oil, would be ready.

"We have prepared a set of changes to the regulation base, which will tighten control of standard-compliant oil getting into the system. This will include a new technical regulation, control activities and so on .

.. I think this will be ready within several months," Novak explained.

In April, chlorides-contaminated Russian oil got into the Druzhba pipeline, through which Russian oil is exported to Europe via Belarus. Four people have been detained in Russia in connection with investigation into the incident. Transit of uncontaminated Russian oil to Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary has already been restored. The Druzhba's leg extending to Poland is expected to be cleared from contaminated oil by June 10.

SPIEF will run from Thursday to Saturday. Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency is an official media partner of the forum.