Belarus expecting 'clean' oil from Russia in 8-10 days
MINSK. April 22 (Interfax) - Belarusian oil refineries could start getting high-quality oil from Russia in about eight to ten days, given the length of the oil pipeline, the chief engineer of Gomeltransneft Druzhba, Andrei Verigo, told Interfax-Zapad.
"Low-quality oil with a high concentration of chloroorganics is continuing to move through this pipeline. It is estimated that this situation will continue for at least the next eight to ten days," Verigo said.
"Objectively speaking, the situation can't change within two to three days," he said, explaining that "if the source of contamination is discovered in Samara, then there are 1,500 kilometers from there to the Belarusian border, and oil flows through the pipeline at 6-7 kilometers per hour." Hence, at least eight to ten days will be needed for high-quality oil to make it to Belarus.
More than 700,000 tonnes of oil that does not meet standards has already arrived, Verigo said. Various options are now being considered, including returning it back through the pipeline.
Low-quality crude is still being pumped in all export directions, Verigo said. "Our foreign partner enterprises were informed about the situation immediately after a full analysis of the oil was received. The Belarusian side will not be getting any complaints, importers will sort this out with the supplier," he said.