The Polish operator PERN announced on Saturday that a leak has occurred in one of the strings of the Russian ‘Druzhba’ oil pipeline passing through Poland to Germany. The automation systems of PERN detected the leak and immediately shut off the section, in collaboration with the Polish Fire Service. Emergency teams are currently working to secure the infrastructure, and the company is investigating the causes of the incident.
It is worth noting that the second branch of the pipeline is operating normally, but there is no mention of any contact with Russia regarding the matter. PERN assures the public that there is no threat to locals or Poland’s fuel supply and that all work at the site is being supervised by national environment protection authorities.
To address the leak, heavy equipment has been deployed to the scene and repair work is in progress. Overnight, the emergency teams dug down to an underground section of the pipeline, where the leak was located. The repair process would continue throughout the night, according to PERN.
The ‘Druzhba’ pipeline, also known as the Friendship pipeline, is a significant oil transit network spanning 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles). It transports oil from Russia to several countries, including Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.
In mid-June, the governor of Russia’s Bryansk Region, Alexander Bogomaz, revealed that Ukrainian forces had attempted to attack a section of the pipeline with drones, but the raid was repelled by Russian air defenses. This incident may be related to the current leak on the Polish territory.
Furthermore, it was reported in May that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had suggested blowing up the ‘Druzhba’ pipeline. Leaked Pentagon documents obtained by The Washington Post indicated that Zelensky made this proposal back in February. Additionally, the European Union allegedly considered restricting Russian oil imports by Germany and Poland through the pipeline, according to Bloomberg.
The leak on the ‘Druzhba’ pipeline raises concerns about the potential disruption of oil supplies. However, the swift response from PERN and the collaboration with Polish authorities to secure the infrastructure and investigate the incident demonstrate the commitment to maintaining the pipeline’s integrity and ensuring the safety of the local community and fuel supply.
As the repair work continues, it is essential to monitor the progress and any developments regarding the causes of the leak. The incident also highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region and the potential vulnerabilities of critical energy infrastructure.
Source link
