Blast Hits Russian Pipeline to Germany, EU Supplies OK

Articles: Blast Hits Russian Pipeline to Germany, EU Supplies OK

Posted by Admin on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 - 08:42 PM

An explosion in Ukraine knocked out one of the main pipelines exporting Russian gas to the European Union on Monday, but officials were quick to say that supplies would not be affected.

<i class="caption">Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Supplies to the EU should not be endangered, Gazprom has said

A "large explosion" cut the pipeline, which carries Siberian gas through Ukraine to Germany and other EU clients, said Viktoria Ruban, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian emergency situations ministry.

The blast occurred at about 1125 GMT close to the village of Luka on a section south of the Ukrainian capital Kiev, tearing out a 30-meter (32-yards) length of pipeline and hurling debris 150 meters (yards), she said.

"It's one of the most serious accidents in recent years," an official from the Ukrainian state gas company Naftogaz told AFP on condition of anonymity.

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An explosion in Ukraine knocked out o­ne of the main pipelines exporting Russian gas to the European Union o­n Monday, but officials were quick to say that supplies would not be affected.

An explosion in Ukraine knocked out one of the main pipelines exporting Russian gas to the European Union on Monday, but officials were quick to say that supplies would not be affected.