Ukraine natural gas pipeline explodes, but backup branch line takes over (June 17, 2014)

[ThePythonicCow]

From Pipeline used for gas transit from Russia to Europe exploded in Ukraine (Pravda) (http://english.pravda.ru/news/hotspots/17-06-2014/127821-ukraine_gas_pipeline_explosion-0/):




Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that investigation was considering several versions of the explosion of Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhhorod gas pipeline in the Poltava region. Most likely, the explosion was a terrorist attack, he said.

According to him, "the supply of natural gas on this pipeline was closed, and the threat of a larger disaster risk was eliminated." As of 17:40 MSK, the fire was extinguished."

"The gas transit is being conducted on a backup branch in full," said Avakov.



From Ukraine Gas Blast Won't Hit Supplies (Nasdaq.com) (http://www.nasdaq.com/article/ukraine-pipeline-explosion-wont-affect-supplies-to-europe-20140617-00759)




MOSCOW--An explosion ripped through a gas transit pipeline in central Ukraine on Tuesday, sending a ball of fire some 200 meters into the air, a day after Russia said it was cutting off supplies to its neighbor over a payment dispute, officials said.

Russia is demanding Ukraine now pay in advance for natural gas, citing its failure to settle past gas debts, in a move that threatens to further destabilize Ukraine's crippled economy and sparks concerns of possible gas shortages in Europe. Kiev argues that Moscow's price demands are unreasonable and that it is using gas as a political lever over a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's state-run pipeline operator, Ukrtransgaz, said the fire from the blast on the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod in a remote area of the Poltava region, was extinguished in less than two hours and that supplies to Europe wouldn't be affected as the gas flow had been temporarily shifted to a parallel pipeline. The pipeline transits through Ukraine, connecting Russia with Slovakia, with smaller offshoots transiting into Hungary and Romania.

From Blast hits Russia-Europe gas pipeline in central Ukraine (LA Times) (http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-ukraine-russia-gas-pipeline-blast-20140617-story.html):

http://www.trbimg.com/img-53a07ee6/turbine/la-fg-ukraine-russia-gas-pipeline-blast-201406-001/750/16x9

[Rollo]

Maybe someone is looking for a profit from higher gas prices in EU or on commodity markets.
This "terrorist" attack is very suspicious. The most violent and ruthless terrorists are wearing ties this days.

[ThePythonicCow]

Here are more details from Gas transit pipeline explodes in Ukraine (RT.com) (http://rt.com/news/166532-gas-pipeline-blast-ukraine/). It seems that the Ukraine is blaming Russia of trying to discredit Ukraine as a gas supplier, and RT is quoting some earlier threat by "the leader of ultranationalist group" to deprive Russia of its gas income.

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An explosion has struck a pipeline in the central Ukrainian Poltava region. Witnesses say flames from the blast are up to 200 meter high.

“The explosion occurred at about 14:45 local time in a field,” the local police press-service said in a statement. Due to the “flame and the high temperatures,” it was “impossible to get closer to the epicenter.”

The “Brotherhood” natural gas pipeline (Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod) is about one kilometer away from the nearest settlement. No injuries have been reported from the blast. Fire fighting crews have been deployed to the scene.

The blaze, which according to the Interior Ministry towered 100 meters high, was put out by “between 4 and 5 pm.”

Pipeline faucets have been temporary turned off, but transit of Russian gas to Europe is being realized through a reserve pipeline.

A preliminary investigation found the explosion was caused by ‘pipeline depressurization’.

Ukraine’s Interior Ministry also cites possible “terrorism” - based on locals “hearing two loud booms before the fire.”

But within just an hour of the blast Ukraine’s acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov blamed Russia.

The Ministry statement decried “Sabotage of a gas pipeline in the Poltava region” as “another attempt by Russia to discredit Ukraine as a gas partner” but didn’t back up such a strong accusation with any additional information.

Operating since 1967, the “Brotherhood” is the largest consumer gas pipeline in Europe, clocking in at 4,451 km. It cuts through Ukraine and runs into Slovakia, where it diverges in two directions; with one part supplying gas to the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Switzerland, and the other to Austria, Italy, Hungary and several countries in the Balkans.

Whether the explosion affects gas supplies to Europe will be seen in the coming days, Russian gas giant Gazprom has said.

At the same time, Ukrainian state gas pipeline and depot operator Ukrtransgas insists that the accident will not affect transit of Russian gas to European consumers.

"[The explosion] clearly did not affect the gas flow," a Ukrtransgaz spokesman said.

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The Poltava region, where Ukraine's oil and natural gas industry is concentrated, lies in the center of the country. This territory is under the protection of the Ukrainian army and has not been the scene of fighting between anti-government militias and government forces.

Back in March, the leader of ultranationalist group Right Sector, Dmitry Yarosh, threatened to destroy Russian pipelines on Ukrainian territory to “deprive our enemy [Russia] of its source of income.”


http://rt.com/files/news/28/a8/40/00/map3.jpg

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