Druzhba pipeline could resume operations within one to one-and-a-half months – Zelenskyy

The Druzhba oil pipeline, which was heavily damaged in a Russian attack at the end of January, could resume operations within one to one-and-a-half months, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine

Details: "We can provide information that resumption may be possible within these one and a half months… But this does not mean that everything that was destroyed will be repaired, and some things can be done in parallel," Zelenskyy said during a briefing following a meeting at the Office of the President.

Meanwhile, he expressed concern that the provision of financial assistance to Ukraine by European Union countries could depend on the resumption of the Druzhba pipeline for supplying Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.

"We will prepare everything, and the decision will then be theirs," the president said.

Serhii Koretskyi, CEO of Naftogaz Group, Ukraine's largest national oil and gas company, also confirmed the estimated repair timeline of about one to one-and-a-half months, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

Quote from Koretskyi: "We are aiming for one to one-and-a-half months to ensure the technological capability for the infrastructure to operate, and in parallel we are preparing project cost estimates, which will show the real figures for repairs and for building an alternative.

That is, underground reservoirs of a casemate type, so that this infrastructure continues to serve not only someone's interests but also the interests of the state of Ukraine."

Details: He said there is no point in resuming the operations of the main pumping station in Brody in Lviv Oblast, because the next Russian attack could damage it again.

"From a security perspective – today and in the future – it is necessary to build underground reservoir parks of a casemate type to the best NATO standards," the Naftogaz CEO said.

These so-called manoeuvrable reservoir parks make it possible to operate continuously and safely for different grades and types of oil.

Koretskyi said the destruction of one element of the pipeline affects a large infrastructure system: pumping units, compressors, cable racks, control panels, electronics, and so on.

Quote from Koretskyi: "To ensure technical pumping capability, there is a need to make a discharge reservoir, which is required to divert oil when pressure rises to a critical level. This is needed so as not to destroy the pipeline and not to cause an environmental disaster.

We are not talking about simply, excuse the slang, patching it up with insulating tape and launching it. This is a full-fledged, high-quality technological process that will ensure uninterrupted and safe operation of this infrastructure."

Background:

• Zelenskyy earlier said he personally does not support repairing the Druzhba pipeline, through which Hungary and Slovakia receive Russian oil.
• On 27 January, a Russian strike damaged a key pumping station of the Druzhba pipeline in the town of Brody in Lviv Oblast.
• The EU is considering providing Ukraine with financial assistance to repair the Druzhba oil pipeline in order to unblock Hungary's and Slovakia's support for Kyiv, Bloomberg has reported, citing sources.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has threatened to use force to make Ukraine resume the transit of oil via the Druzhba pipeline.

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