MOSCOW: Russian state-owned pipeline monopoly Transneft launched a broadside at Rosneft on Monday, publicly criticising the oil producer for dragging its feet over oil quality controls and making unsubstantiated damages claims.
Transneft said that Rosneft had been unwilling to help resolve a contaminated oil crisis in the Russian Druzhba export pipeline which began in late April and that the oil producer was seeking compensation from it without any grounds.
Rosneft did not immediately responded to a request for comment.
The oil contamination, the largest in the history of the Druzhba pipeline, built in 1960s, further undermined Russia's image as a energy supplier and led to the suspension of operations at several oil refineries in Europe.
It has also revived old tensions between the two companies which are both run by close allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin - Igor Sechin at Rosneft and Nikolai Tokarev at Transneft.
Despite formally denying any strife between their CEOs, the two companies have repeatedly clashed in the past over a number of issues, only declaring a truce over the last year.
"Letters, on behalf of Rosneft, were sent to the authorities of the country with claims of compensation without any documents which could confirm any real losses or real damages," Transneft said in a statement.
Daily newspaper Kommersant reported in June that Rosneft had received claims from Belarus' Belneftekhim for $155 million and from Poland's Orlen for $0.45 million and wanted Transneft to guarantee it will make the payments.
Transneft also said Rosneft had openly blocked a pipeline transport bill, which included oil quality control measures.
Sechin made a business trip to Rosneft's PCK refinery in Germany last weeek, Rosneft said. He thanked staff there for their timely measures to prevent damage to equipment and the shut-down of the refinery from the supply of "surrogate" oil through Druzhba.
Rosneft also said, given the restrictions in oil supply through the Druzhba pipeline system, additional oil was being delivered to the refinery through the port of Rostock.
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