Oil being pumped from damaged 'Druzhba' pipeline to allow for repairs

Crude oil is being pumped from the damaged stretch of the 'Druzhba' oil pipeline, so that workers can carry out repairs on a leak.

PERN, Poland's crude oil pipeline operator, reported in a press release on Wednesday that the leak was about 70 kilometres from the central town of Płock, the site of a major refinery.

It also noted that the Druzhba was the main pipeline transporting crude oil to Germany.

The leak, which was detected on Tuesday, comes at period of heightened tensions over energy security in Europe owing to the Ukraine war.

But Stanisław Żaryn, director of the National Security Department, said the leak posed no threat to Poland.

"The scale of the event is not something that would affect the security of Poland, but of course what is happening, what we are dealing with in Europe, indicates that such leaks must be checked very thoroughly and that is why we will do everything to establish the final findings as soon as possible," he said.

Addressing the response to the leak, Malgorzata Jarocka-Krzemkowska, a fire brigade press officer, told PAP that crude oil was currently being pumped out of the pipeline and that this was having positive results.

"This activity will continue without interruption, because the area must be dry and stable enough to allow the pipeline to be dug up and repaired," she said. "We are well aware that time is of the essence."

She added that several state and volunteer fire brigades, including one from PERN were working at the site.

So far, no reason for the pipeline leak has been given by PERN officials.