An oil refinery in Plock, Poland, is seen in this undated handout photo. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

Energy supplies should not be used to threaten Belarus     

    MOSCOW, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Sunday that energy supplies should not be used as a means to threaten his country, reports from Minsk said.

    Although Belarus does not produce petroleum and natural gas, other countries should not use energy supplies to threaten the Belarussian people, Lukashenko told a religious gathering in the capital. Full Story>> 


EU says "no immediate risk" for oil supplies despite Belarus-Russia row 

    BRUSSELS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) said on Monday that the disruption of oil supplies from Russia to the EU through Belarus posed "no immediate risk" to energy supplies in the bloc.

    EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs was in close contact with Polish, German, Slovak and other European authorities to evaluate the impact following an interruption of oil supplies from a pipeline running through Belarus to Poland and Western Europe, Piebalgs' spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny said. Full Story>>    

Germany confirmed oil pipeline closed

    BERLIN, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Germany confirmed here on Monday that the transit of Russian oil to Poland, Germany and Ukraine through Belarus had come to a halt.

    An Economics Ministry spokesman said, "We have no information on the cause." Full Story>>

Germany concerned over Druzhba pipeline closure

    BERLIN, Jan 8 (Xinhua) -- Germany expressed its concern on Monday over the closure of the Druzhba Pipeline earlier in the day, hoping supplies through the pipeline will resume as soon as possible.

    "I view the closure of the important Druzhba Pipeline with concern. I expect supplies through the pipeline to be fully resumed as quickly as possible," German Economics Minister Michael Glos said in a statement. Full Story>>

Poland to seek compensation if oil supplies stop

    WARSAW, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Poland's deputy economy minister in charge of energy Piotr Naimski told journalists Monday that Poland would seek compensation if the stoppage of oil supplies via the Friendship pipeline in Belarus to Poland persisted.

    According to Naimski, the stoppage resulted from a conflict between Russia and Belarus concerning customs duties and transit fees. Full Story>>

Hungary to release oil reserves if deliveries not resumed     

    BUDAPEST, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Economics Minister JanosKoka said on Monday he would order the release of Hungary's strategic oil reserves if deliveries from Russia through the Druzhba pipeline, halted on Monday, are not restarted within 24 hours.

    Koka and Zsolt Hernadi, the chairman of Hungarian oil company Mol, both said the domestic supply of oil, oil products and gas would not be jeopardized by the disruption. Full Story>>

EU citizens favor renewable energy  

    BRUSSELS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) citizens are very positive about renewable energies and many expect fossil fuels to be replaced by renewable energy in the future, according to a EU survey published on Monday.

    The Eurobarometer study, published two days ahead of the launch of the European Commission's major EU energy plan, shows that 80 percent of EU citizens support solar energy while 71 percent are in favor of wind energy. Full Story>>