RZD, ministries don't support delaying ban on carrying oil in gasoline tank cars
MOSCOW. May 18 (Interfax) - Russian Railways (RZD) , the Transport Ministry and other government agencies believe that delaying a ban on carrying crude oil and dark oil products in tank cars intended for gasoline will not resolve railroad transport problems, sources familiar with the interdepartmental taskforce on this issue told Interfax.
This problem was actively discussed at a taskforce meeting on oil product supplies at the Energy Ministry, one source said. It was said that the problem is systemic, so if the ban is postponed, for example until August 1 as oil companies have requested, the same problem will arise in August, he said.
He said government agencies and companies need to jointly study the situation and seek a comprehensive solution.
Russian oil companies earlier prepared an appeal to acting Transport Minister Igor Levitin asking that the ban on carrying oil and dark oil products in gasoline tank cars be postponed until August 1, 2012.
Another source said acting Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin has demanded that government agencies and companies resolve the situation by the end of this week. "Therefore, it was decided to hold another meeting at the Transport Ministry, already with the inclusion of railroad experts, who will submit their conclusion," he said.
The final position of government agencies, railroad operators and oil companies, taking into account possible technological and organizational solutions to the problem, is supposed to be worked out on May 18 at a meeting of the taskforce to be held at the Energy Ministry.
Sources at the Energy Ministry said that, despite the obvious problems that need to be resolved as soon as possible, the situation with fuel supplies in the Far East is under control. "The necessary reserve of fuel was already created earlier, production of oil products is continuing," he said.