Deliveries of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline to the Czech Republic resumed on Friday evening. This was achieved after paying the appropriate fee for transit through Ukrainian territory, as confirmed by the operator of the Czech part of Druzhba, the company Mero.
Oil exports through the southern branch of Druzhba, which leads to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, were suspended on August 4 by Ukrainian pipeline operator Ukrtransnafta due to unpaid transit fees. Although Russia sent the payment, the money was not transferred to the corresponding Ukrainian account due to EU sanctions.
Oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia resumed earlier after Hungarian oil company MOL and its Slovak subsidiary Slovnaft made the transit payment themselves. However, the Czech refineries are owned by Unipetrol, which is owned by the Polish company PKN Orlen.
The oil is now flowing back to the Czech Republic because a European bank, allegedly the Dutch company ING, has made it possible to process transit payments. (Abba)
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