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Belarus steps up Russia oil row Russia oil row hits Polish supply
(30 minutes later)
Belarus has stepped up its row over oil taxes with Moscow by launching legal action against the head of Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft. Russian oil supplies to Poland have been cut off after a trade row between Moscow and Belarus escalated.
The move came after Transneft failed to pay a new oil shipment tax on oil supplies piped through Belarus. Disruptions hit Transneft's Druzhba pipeline overnight before supplies were severed completely at the border with Belarus, Polish officials said.
The action signals the latest escalation in a trade dispute between the two countries. The problems arose after Belarus began legal action against Transneft for failure to pay a new oil shipment tax on oil supplies piped through Belarus.
The row began after the Russian energy giant forced Belarus to accept a huge increase in the price of Russian gas. It signals the latest twist in an energy row between Belarus and Moscow.
The dispute began after Russian energy giant Gazprom forced Belarus to accept a huge increase in the price of Russian gas.
Russia has called for an end to the oil shipment tax saying it threatens supplies to Europe.Russia has called for an end to the oil shipment tax saying it threatens supplies to Europe.
Supplies interruptedSupplies interrupted
Every day Russia transports about a fifth of its oil exports - or one million barrels - through Belarus, mainly to refiners in Poland and Germany.Every day Russia transports about a fifth of its oil exports - or one million barrels - through Belarus, mainly to refiners in Poland and Germany.
Polish officials later said supplies to Poland and Germany through Russia's Druzhba pipeline were halted overnight but the cause was unknown. href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_enl_1136301170/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_enl_1136301170/html/1.stm', '1136301206', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=440,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Europe's gas pipeline network href="javascript: void window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_enl_1136301170/html/1.stm', '1136301206', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=440,left=312,top=100');" >Enlarge Map
Polish TV reports suggested that the interruption to supplies was a result of the escalating row between Moscow and Minsk. "Oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline to Poland and Germany were halted overnight. We sent a letter to Belarus asking for explanations," said Tomasz Zakrzewski, a spokesman for Polish pipeline operator PERN.
Poland's deputy economy minister added that the supply problems were a result of the trade row, while adding that the country had sufficient oil reserves for 80 days.
However, officials in Minsk declined to comment on the situation, saying all questions should be directed to Transneft.
Meanwhile, Transneft said it was doing all it could to boost supplies from via other routes.
Relations sour
Further reports suggested that the company had also accused Belarus of siphoning off Russian oil destined for Europe from the pipeline.
The cut off in oil supplies is the latest twist in a row between Moscow and Minsk over energy prices.
Last week Belarus said it would charge Russia $45 (£23) per tonne of oil that passed through its country.Last week Belarus said it would charge Russia $45 (£23) per tonne of oil that passed through its country.
The tit-for-tat tax move was introduced by the Belarusian government days after the country was forced to accept a doubling of Russian gas charges - from $47 to $100 - when Moscow threatened to cut supplies if Belarus refused to agree new prices.The tit-for-tat tax move was introduced by the Belarusian government days after the country was forced to accept a doubling of Russian gas charges - from $47 to $100 - when Moscow threatened to cut supplies if Belarus refused to agree new prices.
News of the disruption to supplies was a key factor helping to drive oil prices closer to the $57-a-barrel mark on Monday after falling to around the $55 level last week.
US light sweet crude rose 60 cents to $56.91 a barrel in early trade, while in the UK Brent crude stood at $56.43 - up 79 cents.
News that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, planned to cut output also helped to drive crude prices higher.
Saudi Arabia said it would cut output by 158,000 barrels a day from 1 February - in line with the latest production cuts set out by oil cartel Opec in an effort to boost prices.