**Oil Shipments to Europe Halted Due to Technical Issues**
The Druzhba pipeline, a major oil conduit from Russia and Kazakhstan to Europe, has been shut down since December 19 due to technical problems at a Russian pumping station. The issue was reported by Reuters, citing anonymous sources.
**What is the Druzhba Pipeline?**
The Druzhba pipeline is one of the world’s largest, with a capacity of 2 million barrels per day. It plays a critical role in transporting oil from Russian fields to European refineries. The pipeline has two branches: the northern branch transports Kazakh crude oil to Germany via Poland’s Gdansk port, while the southern branch carries Russian oil to countries like Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia.
**Impact of the Disruption**
The halt affects only the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline, which had been transporting 300,000 barrels per day to EU countries that were exempt from the EU’s ban on Russian pipeline oil. These countries rely heavily on Russian supplies. Belarusian refineries are using stored reserves to continue operations.
**What About Oil Deliveries from Russia?**
Sources told Reuters that oil deliveries from Russia’s western ports – Novorossiisk, Ust-Luga, and Primorsk – remain unaffected. This means that Druzhba’s oil could be rerouted to these ports, potentially resolving the issue. However, the suspension may last until the end of December, according to one source.
**Context: EU’s Ban on Russian Oil**
The European Union has largely phased out Russian oil imports following Moscow‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Druzhba pipeline’s southern branch remains active under exemptions for certain Central European countries.