Key information
- A potential leak has emerged on the northern segment of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Poland.
- Emergency responders stopped the flow of crude oil from east to west at the site.
- The southern branch of the pipeline continued to transport Russian crude despite European refiners stopping purchases.
A potential leak has emerged on the northern segment of the Druzhba oil pipeline, also known as the “Friendship Pipeline”, in Poland. Emergency services cordoned off the area near Pniewy after receiving reports of a possible breach at around 7.30am on Sunday.
The pipeline operator, PERN SA, immediately stopped the flow of crude oil from east to west at the site. This segment supplies refineries in Germany, including Leuna and Schwedt, which typically receive oil via the Baltic Sea port of Gdansk.
Terrorist threats targeting the southern part
Furthermore, concern is growing about possible terrorist threats targeting the southern part of the Druzhba oil pipeline. Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said authorities detected signs of an organized group potentially planning acts against critical infrastructure in eastern Slovakia and parts of Hungary.
This group’s activities appear to be focused on the pipeline corridor.
-Oil transportation
Although most European refiners stopped buying Russian crude following the war in Ukraine, the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline continued to transport around 300,000 barrels per day of Ural crude to three refineries in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
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