The Druzhba pipeline in the direction of Germany was disconnected after a leak

A leak was found in the Druzhba pipeline on one of the two lines of the western section, through which crude enters Germany. A leak was discovered at a section of an oil pipeline in Poland, the line was turned off, informed Polish operator “Friendship” PERN.

“On Saturday evening, PERN automation systems detected a depressurization of the Druzhba pipeline in the Khodech area on one of the two lines of the western section, through which oil enters Germany. Pumping on the damaged thread was immediately stopped, ”the message on the company’s website says.

According to the company, the second branch of the pipeline operates without changes, there is no threat to local residents. The PERN Fire and Rescue Services are on site to ensure the safety of the area. The cause of the incident is being investigated.

The operator added that the rest of the PERN infrastructure, including the Pomorsky section, which is used to pump crude oil to Poland and Germany, is operating normally.

The Druzhba pipeline was built in the 1960s. for the delivery of oil from the USSR to the countries of the socialist camp in Eastern Europe. It starts in the Samara region and passes through Bryansk, and then splits into two branches: northern and southern.

Druzhba was not affected by the EU embargo on the supply of Russian oil, which entered into force on December 5, 2022. Germany and Poland received oil along the northern branch through Belarus, and Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic received oil along the southern branch (through Ukraine). In 2022, Druzhba, according to Vedomosti sources familiar with the statistics of the Ministry of Energy, pumped 38.4 million tons of oil. But Germany and Poland have repeatedly expressed their desire to refuse the supply of Russian oil, and Warsaw called for sanctions against Druzhba.