European Commission to convene oil supply crisis planning group
"It is unacceptable that energy suppliers or transit countries do not inform their counterparts about decisions that may affect their supplies. We call upon the two parties involved to rapidly find a mutually acceptable solution to the current situation and to restore oil supplies to the European Union immediately. It is also important to ensure that ways are found to avoid this kind of disruption to energy supplies occurring again", said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. Unresolved issues between Russia and Belarus have resulted in repeated and prolonged disruptions of crude oil deliveries from Russia via Belarus through the Druzhba pipeline. Since Monday, several Member States have reported a complete cut in flows. Crude processing in Germany, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic has been affected and refineries relying on deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline started drawing on their operational stocks. Member States affected report having at their disposal sufficient emergency stocks for the time being to assure uninterrupted operation of their refining and distribution systems. Emergency oil stocks of crude and petroleum products, maintained in the Union in accordance with EU legislation for these occasions stand at present at over 120 days of EU average consumption. The Oil Supply Group is set up by the applicable EU legislation dealing with measures to mitigate the effects of difficulties in the supply of crude oil and petroleum products and all Members States are members of the Group. The Druzhba pipeline supplies 1.8 million barrels per day to Poland and Germany through Belarus. Some 30 percent of EU oil imports come from Russia, and over 50 percent of these cross Belarus. Both the Northern and Southern Druzhba pipeline systems cross Belarus, with the latter also crossing Ukraine.
•Date: 10th January 2007 • Region: W.Europe / UK •Type: Article •Topic: BC general |
