"Friendship" apart: what is known about the main oil pipeline from Russia to Europe
In the evening of December 1, a leak occurred on the Polish section of the Druzhba pipeline, operated by Transneft, resulting in the shutdown of one of the pumping stations. As of the morning of December 2, Poland continues to supply oil to Germany through one of the two branches of the pipeline. The last time a leak on the pipeline was fixed on October 11, 2022. The history and importance of the pipeline is described in Izvestia's reference.
Accident at Druzhba on December 1
In the west of Poland on a section of the pipeline "Druzhba" there was a fuel leak. This was reported on Sunday, December 1, by the spokesman of the State Fire Service branch in the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship Martin Halasz. According to the company, the oil pipeline leak was detected near the town of Pniewy on one of the two strings of the western section of the Druzhba, through which raw materials are delivered to the refinery in Germany.
The Polish operator preventively shut down one of the pumping substations. As of the morning of December 2, Poland continues to supply oil to Germany through one of the two branches of the pipeline. At the site of the accident is being repaired: after preparation and displacement of raw materials leaky section will be replaced with a new one. The causes of the incident will be established by an internal committee at Pern.
"Druzhba - The largest oil pipeline
"Druzhba" is the largest Russian pipeline supplying oil to Europe. The route runs from Almetyevsk through Samara and Bryansk to the Belarusian city of Mozyr, and then branches into two sections: a southern section (through Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) and a northern section (through Belarus, Poland and Germany). Previously, Latvia and Lithuania also pumped oil through the northern branch, but these supplies were stopped in 2006.
The pipeline is capable of supplying 66.5 million tons of oil per year, including 49.8 million tons via the northern branch. In 2021, the pipeline's Russian operator, Transneft, reduced transportation through Druzhba to 35.9 million tons. According to the latest forecasts, it was planned to increase to 45.5 million tons in 2022.
Igor Demin, Transneft's spokesman, explained to Izvestia that transit through the northern branch of Druzhba continues without interruptions, as the Russian side pays Belarus directly, while transit through Ukraine is paid in European banks and was frozen for 8 days in August amid sanctions.
At the same time, it was Hungary, which receives Russian oil through the southern string of the pipeline, that insisted that the EU sanctions did not affect Druzhba.
Figures and facts:
- It is the world's largest trunk oil pipeline system;
- Construction began in 1960;
- Total length of 8.9 thousand kilometers, of which 3.9 thousand kilometers through the territory of Russia;
- Pumped 66.5 million tons of oil annually: 49.8 million tons on the northern pipeline and 16.7 million tons on the southern pipeline;
-Hungary insisted on the removal of Druzhba supplies from the EU sanctions list.
History of Druzhba construction
Construction of the Druzhba began on December 10, 1960, contrary to usual practice - with the final, not the initial sections. The main reason was geopolitical: in this way the USSR demonstrated the seriousness of its intentions to provide the socialist countries with a sufficient amount of hydrocarbon raw materials. When constructing the pipeline, each country was responsible for its part, as the pipeline became the property of the respective state. The construction was completed four years later, in October 1964. Transneft became the operator of the Russian section.
The oil pipeline was laid through the mountains, crossed hundreds of roads and railroads - 175 bridges and 113 crossings were built for it. It also runs along the bottom of 45 major rivers, including the Volga, Oka, Dniester, Dnieper, Pripyat, Danube, Vistula and Oder.
Accident on October 11, 2022
On the evening of Tuesday, October 11, it became known about depressurization and leaks on one of the two strings of the Druzhba oil pipeline leading to Germany. The accident occurred on the territory of Poland about 70 kilometers from Płock. According to ARD in Warsaw, more than 400 cubic meters of oil had leaked out by morning. The damaged line was immediately shut down, the second one is working normally. Collection of spilled oil into tanks continues all day on October 12.
As soon as the oil is collected, technical services will find out the exact causes of the incident and repair the pipeline. Transneft, the Russian operator of the pipeline, has not yet given a timeline for the restoration. Brandenburg's Ministry of Economy believes it will take two to 10 days to repair the leak.
Versions and sabotage
Polish government commissioner for strategic energy infrastructure Mateusz Berger said that the leak on the Druzhba oil pipeline is believed to have occurred due to "accidental damage." According to him, at the moment there is no reason to believe that the accident was the result of sabotage.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic believes that the accident was caused by sabotage. The politician called it a continuation of the situation with the Nord Streams.
BitRiver financial analyst Vladislav Antonov does not rule out that the attempt to stop the pumping of oil through the pipeline was aimed at hastening the Germans to break relations with Russia. "Germany is being cut off from Russian energy resources from all sides, and Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz spreads his hands and agrees with everything, creating "favorable conditions" for Europeans for the winter period. The oil embargo has been in place since December 5. Apparently, not everyone is satisfied with it".
The State Duma Energy Committee told Izvestia that the accident at the Druzhba oil pipeline could have occurred within the framework of a fully operational situation. It also noted that Russia was ready to join the necessary work to restore the pipeline.
