Azerbaijan, Baku, May 14 / corr Trend E.Ismayilov /
The Azerbaijani oil transportation via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline has been ceased for 72 hours due to the scheduled prophylactic work in the Russian section, a source at the oil and gas market said on May 14.
"Oil delivery in this direction has been temporarily stopped due to prophylactic work. Such breaks are done to carry out scheduled work. In 72 hours oil transportation will be restored," the source said.
"Oil transportation via this pipeline will cease at 13:00 [Baku time] and restore a day after tomorrow [16 мая] at the same time," it added.
As many as 890,000 tons of oil was exported via Baku-Novorossiysk in January-April compared to 408,000 tons for the same period of 2008.
In May it is planned to pump 225,000 tons of oil via this pipeline and 171,000 in June. In accordance with forecasts for July, 248,000 tons of oil will be transported via this pipeline in July, 240,000 tons in August, 140,000 tons in September, 248,000 tons in October, 240,000 tons in November, and 140,000 tons in November. Totally, it is planned to pump 2.55 million tons of oil via this route in 2009 as compared to 1.3 million tons in 2008.
Presently, Azerbaijan gets Urals oil in outlet (in Novorossiysk port) while oil transportation via Baku- Novorossiysk pipeline because of mixing with oil of other producers.
The operator of the Baku-Novorossiysk was the Azerbaijan International Operating Company until the end of 2007. The SOCAR began to operate the pipeline since 2007.
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