Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko plans to issue a decree on transformation of the Odessa-Brody pipeline to adverse operation mode.
According to UNIAN, Yushchenko made it public at a joint press conference with President of Finland Tarja Halonen.
"This morning I read the draft decree on the matter, and instructed to finalize it tomorrow. I will issue this decree," Yushchenko said.
He noted that this document will include the establishment of a working group of representatives of relevant ministries and departments.
Yushchenko stated that the feasibility study of the Euro-Asian oil transport corridor was approved at the end of April, and before that an intergovernmental Ukrainian-Polish agreement was signed. Thus, the formal decisions were adopted and there is a need to move forward. The President urged not to politicize this process, and care more about the security of Ukraine in the sphere of energy. He stressed that the aim of the project based on an oil pipeline EANTK on the basis of Odessa-Brody pipeline is to strengthen the energy security of Ukraine.
"I encourage being responsible in this matter, first of all, the Ukrainian government, and fulfilling the commitments made at the governmental level," said Yushchenko. He added he believes in this project, despite all obstacles.
The use of Odessa-Brody pipeline in adverse mode was provided is the project on its construction. Odessa-Brody plan was designed to diversify oil supplies to Ukrainian refineries and transit facilities for the development of the country. Construction of the pipeline was completed in May 2002. The pipeline has a length of 674 km, diameter - 1,020 mm. Power of the first stage of the pipeline and the terminal of 9-14 million tons per year. The pipeline was designed to transport Caspian oil to Europe. Ukraine had unsuccessfully trying to agree on the transportation of Caspian oil via the pipeline over two years. Having received no concrete offers from companies, the Ukrainian Government authorized the use of a pipeline for transporting Russian oil in the reverse direction at the end of June 2004.
Thus, since the construction the pipeline is used in the reverse direction, which involves the transportation of Russian oil from Brody to Odessa, and more -by tankers to the Black Sea straits