Russia's Transneft not eyeing Belarusian section of oil pipeline, CEO says

Transneft has no plans to buy the Belarusian section of the Druzhba oil pipeline, Nikolai Tokarev, president of the Russian pipeline operator, said in Moscow on May 11, according to RIA Novosti.

“This has never been the subject matter of official negotiations with our Belarusian partners,” said Mr. Tokarev. “Transneft never made a decision to consider the matter. We never stated officially that we want to acquire it. Even when the matter was ever brought up, it was always discussed purely in theory. Theoretically, yes, we can [buy it], but should we?”

The possible acquisition of the Belarusian section of the Druzhba pipeline is not on the agenda at present, he stressed.

Speaking in early April, Transneft Vice President Mikhail Barkov said that the company was interested to buy the Belarusian section. "There were such talks in the past, but in general we know the situation, if there is such a question, we will enter into negotiations," he said.

Druzhba is used for transporting Russian oil to the European Union.