Russia not expecting problems with oil supplies to Czech Republic in June
MOSCOW. May 30 (Interfax) - The Russian Energy Ministry is not expecting any problems with oil supplies to the Czech Republic in June, Deputy Energy Minister Yuri Sentyurin told the press.
"We do not predict problems in this direction," he said.
The Czech Republic reduced its June order for crude to 150,000 tonnes compared to the usual 400,000 tonnes per month. Gazprom Neft , Lukoil and Rosneft can supply the oil to the Czech Republic.
Earlier it was reported that Lukoil did not plan to supply oil in this direction in the second quarter of 2012. A source added that Rosneft was also not interested in supplying oil to this direction in the second quarter. He said Lukoil and Rosneft were reducing supplies to the Czech Republic due to price conditions.
Transneft spokesman Igor Demin said the pipeline monopoly did not yet have confirmation about the volumes of oil going to the Czech Republic, but he said he was sure Transneft would have it by June 1.
Demin told Interfax that currently there were 10 free tanker positions in the western direction: 3 at Ust Luga and 6 in Primorsk. For the first time oil companies have a capacity surplus for the western direction, he said.
Over the next two weeks part of the tanker positions will be filled, he added. Ust Luga Port, which was launched at the end of March and worked to full capacity in the second quarter, shipping twice as much oil as forecast, will be taken into account fully when compiling the schedule of supplies for the next quarter.
The Transneft spokesman said the company has virtually eliminated the backlog in oil supplies to Kozmino Port (the endpoint of the Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean (ESPO) system), which arose due to problems with rail tanker use restrictions. The backlog for the month will be 40,000 tonnes, he said.
