Oil shipment resumes through Ukrainian section of Druzhba pipe

As of August 11, oil transit through the Ukrainian branch of the Druzhba oil pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia has been resumed.

That’s according to NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

It is noted that oil transit through the Ukrainian branch of the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia has been resumed as of August 11.

"Currently, Ukrtransnafta has no information about payment for transit from the Czech Republic. Ukrtransnafta has not received an official letter from Transneft that the Mero company, which manages the section of the Druzhba oil pipeline in the Czech Republic, will pay for transit to this country," Naftogaz noted.

The company recalled that on August 4, Ukrtransnafta forcibly stopped the transit of Russian oil through the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba main. The contract between Ukrtransnafta and PJSC Transneft on the provision of shipment services provides for 100% advance payment, while the Russian company provided no such payment.

The Hungarian oil company MOL, which is the main consumer of oil shipped through the southern branch of the Druzhba, took the initiative to pay for the transit of Russian oil. On August 10, Ukrtransnafta received payment from MOL.

As reported, the Russian pipeline monopoly Transneft said that Ukraine suspended supplies of Russian oil to Southern Europe from early August due to the Russian side's inability to pay for services due to Western sanctions.

In June, the European Union adopted the sixth package of sanctions targeting the Russian Federation, providing for the refusal of Russian oil, with the exception of supplies to Hungary and Slovakia.