Title: Leak Detected in Druzhba Oil Pipeline Halts Pumping from Russia to Europe
Date: August 6, 2023
Location: Chodecz, Poland
Polish pipeline operator PERN announced on Saturday that pumping through a section of the Druzhba pipeline, which transports oil from Russia to Europe, has been halted after a leak was detected in central Poland. Although the cause of the leak is still unknown, the company expects to resume oil flows by Tuesday.
The incident follows a series of attacks on pipelines carrying Russian oil and gas since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Firefighters and PERN emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene, but no reports of a fire were made.
PERN stated that the affected section of the pipeline has been isolated, preventing the leak from spreading further. Grzegorz Jankowski from the State Fire Services in Wloclawek reported that the leak’s scale is not extensive, covering an area measuring 30 by 210 meters (yards).
The second line of the pipeline is operating normally, and PERN assured that there is no health threat to local residents. The company is actively investigating the cause of the leak and maintaining communication with German partners receiving oil through the pipeline.
Although Germany halted the purchase of Russian oil in January, there are reports in German media suggesting that Kazakh oil is being imported through the pipeline. The federal Economy Ministry in Berlin confirmed that the security of oil supply is not compromised.
PERN highlighted that Polish refineries’ supply remains unaffected, and the Pomeranian section of the Druzhba pipeline, used for transporting crude oil from tankers arriving in Poland to Germany, is operating normally.
The Druzhba oil pipeline is one of the largest in the world, with a capacity to transport 2 million barrels per day. The western section of both lines, responsible for carrying oil from central Poland to Germany, has an annual capacity of 27 million tonnes of crude oil.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline have significantly declined, and the infrastructure has been targeted multiple times. Moscow has attributed these attacks to Ukraine, while Ukraine denies any involvement.
The security of Europe’s energy infrastructure has been a major concern since the discovery of major leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea in September. The explosions that caused the ruptures remain unexplained, with Moscow blaming Ukraine and the West for the blasts.
Both Ukraine and Western leaders have denied responsibility for the attacks and consider them acts of sabotage.
As investigations continue into the cause of the leak in the Druzhba oil pipeline, Poland and its partners are working to ensure a swift resumption of oil flows and ensure the security and stability of Europe’s energy supply.