Polish operator starts repairing Druzhba pipeline branch

MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax) - Polish pipeline operator Pern has started to repair the damaged branch of the Druzhba oil pipeline, where a leak had been found.

"Work was carried out overnight to clear the remaining oil from the pipeline and create a safe environment to eliminate the defect. Evaluations related to the cause of the event are being carried out," it said.

Pern reported on Wednesday morning that it had detected an oil leak on Tuesday evening along one of the two strings of the western section of the Druzhba pipeline, about 70 km from Plock. The branch supplies oil to Germany. Pern has not found any signs of third-party interference. Transneft has not reduced the pumping of oil to either Poland or to Germany because of the incident along the Polish branch of the Druzhba pipeline.