Russia has announced it will halt shipments on the southern branch of the Friendship pipeline after the Ukrainians failed to pay transit fees. Mol offered to pay the transit fee for them, but they did not receive a response from the Ukrainians.
According to the sources, the transaction covering the transit fees did not take place at the required time between the Russian Transneft and the Ukrainian Ukrtransnafta, and as a result, the Russian side announced that they would stop the oil transport on the southern branch of the friendship pipeline.
According to Origó's information, MOL offered to pay the transit fee instead of the Russians, but they did not receive a response from the Ukrainians.
Ria Novosti writes that the Russians should pay a transit fee on a Ukrainian section, but they could not transfer it due to sanctions, and the Ukrainians prevented them from getting the money in another way, that is, to prevent the operation of the oil pipeline. We understand that the Russians are turning to Brussels to resolve the situation and allow the oil transport to work.
In any case, the bottom line is that the Friendship Pipeline stopped because of the Ukrainians.
MOL issued a statement about the situation: according to this, crude oil transport on the "Friendship pipeline has been suspended for a few days, because as far as we know, technical problems arose on the bank's side in connection with the payment of the transit fee affecting the Russian side. Although MOL has enough reserves for several weeks, it is constantly working on a solution and has also initiated negotiations on taking over the fee obligation."
Source. origo.hu
Our opening image source: MTI/Péter Komka
