Russia asks Kazakhstan to mull oil transit shipments to Europe via southern Druzhba line
MOSCOW. Nov 13 (Interfax) - Russia has proposed that Kazakhstan consider the possibility of transit oil shipments to Europe through the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline that runs through Ukraine, the Russian Energy Ministry told Interfax.
The ministry did not explain the reasons for or details of this proposal.
The adviser to the president of Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft , Igor Demin speculated that this probably refers to diversification of Kazakh oil exports.
Commenting on shipments of Russian oil through Ukraine, he said "Ukraine is our reliable partner in issues of hydrocarbon transit."
"They have never let us down in issues of transportation, neither in the past nor the present," Demin said. "We have not had and do not have any complaints about our partners in regard to the security and pumping of oil," he added.
The southern branch of Druzhba is expected to carry 15 million tonnes of oil this year and the same amount next year, according to the company. However, the export schedule is handled by the Energy Ministry, Demin remarked.