Belarus launches own checks of Russian oil for organic chlorides
MOSCOW. Aug 26 (Interfax) - Gomeltransneft Druzhba, the Belarusian operator of the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline, has been carrying out its own checks of oil arriving from Russia for the presence of organic chlorides since August 1, 2019, the company said.
"An additional lab-technician position was introduced at the Gomel pumping station [the station of the Unecha-Mozyr pipeline closest to Russian territory] on August 1, and an advanced device for analyzing samples for the presence of organic chlorides in hydrocarbons entering our country has been installed," the company said.
"The situation surrounding the arrival of oil contaminated with organic chlorides from Russia in April of this year led to certain adjustments in our approach to ensuring the safe and reliable functioning of the Belarusian section of the Druzhba pipeline," Gomeltransneft Druzhba's head engineer Andrei Verigo was quoted as saying.
The company and Belneftekhim are discussing the creation of new metering stations to track the quantity and quality of oil on the country's borders with Russia and Poland, according to the press release.