Russia resumes oil supplies to Europe

Russia resumed pumping oil to Europe via Belarus today, ending a three-day suspension of supplies caused by a dispute between the former Soviet neighbours that has left lasting doubts in European capitals about Russia’s dependability as an energy supplier.

The Russian state pipeline operator said it had started deliveries to Germany and a number of Eastern European countries through Belarus at about 8.30am.

“Russian oil is flowing through the Druzhba pipeline to Europe,” OAO Transneft vice president Sergei Grigoriyev said.

This followed a resumption of supplies last night by Belarus, which was compensating Russia for 87,000 tons of crude that it had illegally siphoned off, Grigoriyev said.

European nations affected by the pipeline shutdown confirmed the resumption of Russian oil supplies, with the Hungarian gas and oil giant MOL and Slovak pipeline operator Transpetrol both reporting crude flows through Belarus as of late last night.