The Russian Energy Minister, Alexander Novak, has called the potential blocking of the oil transit from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline inappropriate force majeure and noted that Russia has options for redirecting oil from the Druzhba to ports, interfax.ru reports.
Last week, Alyaksandr Lukashenka gave orders to start repairs of the pipeline if necessary.
“The good that we do for the Russian Federation is constantly turning evil for us,” Lukashenka said.
The presidential orders became a reaction to restricting the supply of fruits supplies to Russia.
The transit of Russian oil to Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic via Belarus takes place via a pipeline owned by the state-owned Gomeltransneft Druzhba. About a quarter of Russia’s oil exports pass through Belarus.
