Moscow: Russia may never reopen its oil pipeline to Lithuania because it is too old, yesterday's Moscow Times newspaper quoted the head of Russia's pipeline monopoly Transneft as saying.
"This could happen. You understand that the lifespan of a pipeline according to industry norms is 30 years. Druzhba-1 is 42 years old. It is made out of metals that are now forbidden," said Semyon Vainshtok.
Russia earlier this month said it has halted flows on the pipeline, blaming a pipeline leak. The line supplied around 250,000 barrels per day to Lithuania's Mazeikiu refinery and Butinge export terminal.
But market players have said the move could have been an attempt by Moscow to exert pressure on Lithuania, which chose Polish energy firm PKN Orlen as the new owner of Mazeikiu, instead of a Kremlin-friendly company.
The Kremlin used similar tactics several years ago when it completely stopped crude supplies to the Latvian port of Ventspils after saying Latvia mistreated its Russian-speaking minority. Supplies to Ventspils have never resumed.
Vainshtok denied any political link behind the halt of the pipeline, which he said was being studied by an independent institute. It should soon rule whether the link could be modernised or would need complete rebuilding.
