BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

08/01/2007

EU calls on Russia, Belarus to explain cause of oil disruption

Brussels, Jan 8, IRNA

The European Union's top energy official confirmed Monday that there has been an interruption to the flow of oil through the Pryzyazn pipeline which carries Russian oil via Belarus to EU countries following a Russian-Belarus oil row.

"The Commission is following the situation very closely. I can confirm that that there has been an interruption to the flow of oil through the Pryzyazn pipeline in Poland," EU energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said in a statement.

Belarus has reportedly halted Russian oil supplies to Poland and Germany for Russia's refusal to pay a new tax on its oil supplied to Europe through Belarus.

The energy row between Russia and Belarus began after Moscow recently forced Minsk to accept a two-fold increase from $47 to $100 in the price of Russian gas.

On its part, Russia says Belarus has no right to levy taxes on transit goods.

Piebalgs called on the Russian and Belarussian authorities to provide "an urgent and detailed explanation of the causes of the disruption."

However, European Commission energy spokesman, Ferran Tarradellas, told reporters in Brussels that the oil row was a bilateral issue between Russia and Belarus.

Russia transports about one million barrels of oil through Belarus, mainly to Poland and Germany.

Although there is no immediate risk to the supply of oil to the EU, the energy commissioner said he is in close contact with Polish, German and other European authorities to evaluate the impact of the cuts.

Source:

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0701082311161539.htm