DATE:
31/07/2006
BELARUS, Russia, July 31 (UPI) -- Russia's main oil pipeline to Europe has sprung a leak near Belarus, threatening an environmental catastrophe, the Natural Resources Ministry said.
The leak from the Druzhba pipeline has covered 4 square miles, including forests and water facilities, in the Bryansk region, 235 miles southwest of Moscow, the Russian Information agency Novosti reports.
The ministry has set up a special commission to investigate the accident, the agency said.
Russia is the world's second-biggest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia. The pipeline carries about a one-third of Russian oil exports, mostly to Europe.
The ministry did not say if fuel deliveries to European customers were affected.
Source:
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