BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

07/05/2007

Belarus expects Transnefteprodukt to pay for pipeline accident cleanup

MINSK. May 7 (Interfax) - The Belarusian Emergency Situations Ministry expects Zapad-Transnefteprodukt to pay compensation for the cleanup after the May 5 accident at the Unecha-Ventspils oil products pipeline, a source in the ministry's press service told Interfax on Monday. "We will evaluate how much we spent and send the bill to Zapad- Transnefteprodukt," he said. The company paid 133 million Belarusian rubles (USD 62,000) in compensation for a similar accident this March, he said.

The Unecha-Ventspils pipeline ruptured near the village of Babayevo in the Vitebsk region on May 5, the source said. In his words, about five tonnes of diesel fuel spilled out.

Sixteen dams were built at irrigation canals in a radius of 600 meters to keep the diesel fuel from spilling into the Svechanka River, the source said. Absorbent was poured into the canals, and 350 cubic meters of a mixture of absorbent, diesel fuel and water was collected. The damaged pipeline segment now stands idle, while fuel is being delivered by reserve route.

Zapad-Transnefteprodukt is a 100% subsidiary of Yugozapad- Transnefteproduct (a subsidiary of Russia's Transnefteprodukt). The company ships Russian oil products.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/5/268359/news.aspx

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