Azerbaijan, Baku, November 14/ Trend / President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko is sure that Prime Minister Yuli Tymoshenko will not agree to use Odessa-Brody oil pipeline in averse regime, Ukrainian President said to Ukrainian journalists after 4th Energy Summit in Baku, UNIAN reported.
"Operation of Odessa-Brody oil pipeline in averse regime is a political issue," Yushchenko said adding that "there is no economy".
President said there are no problems regarding delivery of Russian oil to Odessa. He said the six million tons of oil that is transported via this pipeline can be pumped from Akhtirki to Odessa $2 a barrel cheaper by not spending time on extra distance and funds on transportation through Brody.
"I think given the promised that she made, Prime Minister will not accept diversification of oil supply to Ukraine," Yushchenko said.
Furthermore, President said this is not tragedy and "from the end of first half of next year we will be supplied with necessary amount of oil to ensure pipeline's operation in averse regime".
"I am sure in this case we will have a government which will be able to pursue a sound policy which will meet national interests," Yushchenko said.
Using Odessa-Brody oil pipeline in averse regime was envisaged by its draft of construction.
Odessa-Brody oil transport project was planned to diversify oil supply to Ukrainian oil refineries and develop transit opportunities of the country. The Construction of Oddessa-Brody oil pipeline completed in May, 2002. It has a length of 647 km, diameter of 1020mm. The capacity of first line of oil pipeline and terminal makes up 9mln to 14mln tons a year.
Odessa-Brody was planned to pump the Caspian oil to Europe. Ukraine has unsuccessfully attempted to reach agreement to transport the Caspian oil in the pipe in a forward direction for the two years since its construction. Not getting any proposals by companies, at the end of 2004 Ukrainian government permitted to use the pipeline to transport Russian oil in reverse direction. So, the pipeline has operated in reverse regime since its construction which calls transport of oil from Brod in Odessa and onwards by tankers through the Black Sea straits.