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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Russia-Belarus oil blockade ends | Russia-Belarus oil blockade ends |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Russia has resumed pumping crude oil to Europe via Belarus after a three-day halt in supplies. | Russia has resumed pumping crude oil to Europe via Belarus after a three-day halt in supplies. |
| Russian pipeline operator Transneft began oil flows to Germany and several East European countries at 0530 GMT. | Russian pipeline operator Transneft began oil flows to Germany and several East European countries at 0530 GMT. |
| Russia cut off supplies to Belarus on Monday, after claims Minsk had been illegally siphoning off oil. | Russia cut off supplies to Belarus on Monday, after claims Minsk had been illegally siphoning off oil. |
| European nations welcomed the reopening of the key Druzhba pipeline but the International Energy Agency said it had been a "grave" incident. | European nations welcomed the reopening of the key Druzhba pipeline but the International Energy Agency said it had been a "grave" incident. |
| 'Constructive resolution' | 'Constructive resolution' |
| The European Union Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, confirmed that all supplies had been renewed and called for "transparent and reliable" behaviour from producer nations and transit countries such as Belarus.. | The European Union Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, confirmed that all supplies had been renewed and called for "transparent and reliable" behaviour from producer nations and transit countries such as Belarus.. |
| German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed Moscow's actions, saying Russia had responded to its appeals for a "rapid, constructive resolution". | |
| Poland, which has previously raised concerns over Russian's controls on energy supplies to the EU, said it expected other nations would be more receptive to its worries. | Poland, which has previously raised concerns over Russian's controls on energy supplies to the EU, said it expected other nations would be more receptive to its worries. |
| RUSSIAN OIL USERS* Hungary - 83.5% of all oil suppliesSlovakia - 82.2%Finland - 79.1%Poland - 77.2%Czech Republic - 49.3%Belgium - 31.8%Sweden - 29.4%Germany - 26.2%Netherlands - 25.3%Italy - 18.1%Austria - 16.8%France - 11.4%Denmark - 2.1% *Source: Petroleum Economist magazine Q&A: Pipeline shutdown Analysis: Oil row | RUSSIAN OIL USERS* Hungary - 83.5% of all oil suppliesSlovakia - 82.2%Finland - 79.1%Poland - 77.2%Czech Republic - 49.3%Belgium - 31.8%Sweden - 29.4%Germany - 26.2%Netherlands - 25.3%Italy - 18.1%Austria - 16.8%France - 11.4%Denmark - 2.1% *Source: Petroleum Economist magazine Q&A: Pipeline shutdown Analysis: Oil row |
| International Energy Agency boss Claude Mandil said the supply cut-off undermined faith in Russia as an oil exporter and was "something that should never have happened". | International Energy Agency boss Claude Mandil said the supply cut-off undermined faith in Russia as an oil exporter and was "something that should never have happened". |
| The dispute between the two former Soviet countries came after Moscow forced Belarus to accept a major increase in the cost of gas supplies to the country in late December. | The dispute between the two former Soviet countries came after Moscow forced Belarus to accept a major increase in the cost of gas supplies to the country in late December. |
| Russia later imposed a hefty duty on oil exports to Belarus, claiming its neighbour was costing it up to $4bn in lost revenues each year. | Russia later imposed a hefty duty on oil exports to Belarus, claiming its neighbour was costing it up to $4bn in lost revenues each year. |
| In retaliation, Belarus slapped a $45-per-tonne transit tax on oil shipments from Russia, but withdrew it earlier on Wednesday after tense top-level government talks between both sides. | In retaliation, Belarus slapped a $45-per-tonne transit tax on oil shipments from Russia, but withdrew it earlier on Wednesday after tense top-level government talks between both sides. |
| 'Destroyed trust' | 'Destroyed trust' |
| Russia had refused to pay the Belarusian tax, and demanded it be cancelled in order for oil supplies through the pipeline to begin again. | Russia had refused to pay the Belarusian tax, and demanded it be cancelled in order for oil supplies through the pipeline to begin again. |
| At its height, the dispute hit Russian oil supplies to Germany, Poland, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries via the Druzhba pipeline. | At its height, the dispute hit Russian oil supplies to Germany, Poland, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries via the Druzhba pipeline. |
| The move by Russia to cut off supplies via the Druzhba pipeline - whose name roughly translates as friendship - brought about widespread criticism across Europe. | The move by Russia to cut off supplies via the Druzhba pipeline - whose name roughly translates as friendship - brought about widespread criticism across Europe. |
| German Chancellor and current European Union president Angela Merkel denounced the pipeline closure as unacceptable and one that "destroyed trust" in Russia as an energy supplier. | German Chancellor and current European Union president Angela Merkel denounced the pipeline closure as unacceptable and one that "destroyed trust" in Russia as an energy supplier. |
| The 2,500-mile-long pipeline has the capacity to ship more than 1.2 million barrels a day to eastern and central Europe and typically works at close to full capacity. | The 2,500-mile-long pipeline has the capacity to ship more than 1.2 million barrels a day to eastern and central Europe and typically works at close to full capacity. |