Transnefteprodukt may stop export of oil products over Latvian pipelines through the port of Ventsspils- Victor Kaluzhny
Transnefteprodukt, the Russian operator of oil product pipelines may stop export of oil products over the Latvian pipelines through the port of Ventspilss in the following year or even in the second half of this year. As RZHD-Partner writes, Victor Kalyuzhny, the Ambassador of Russia in Latvia declared it. This decision can be connected with an intention of Transnefteprodukt to reorient export traffic of oil products to the Russian ports, mainly, to the city of Vysotsk (Leningradskaya oblast). However the intention of Russia to gradually reduce the transit of oil and other exported goods through Latvia may be explained by other reason, which is unsatisfactory mutual relations between Russia and Latvia, Ambassador noted. Under Victor Kalyuzhny's forecasts, in the near future the volumes of other Russian transit cargoes might be reduced for Latvia; for example coal cargoes might be directed to the Russian and Estonian ports. Export of Russian oil over a pipeline through Ventspills started to reduce in 2002, and since 2003 Ventspills has not been receiving Russian oil over the pipeline at all. The oil product pipeline is still working.
