EU demands explanation for Russia oil pipe halt

BRUSSELS, Jan 8 (Reuters) The European Commission said today it had asked Russia and Belarus for an urgent explanation of the reasons for halting the flow of oil in a pipeline from Russia to Poland and Germany.

''We have contacted the Russian and Belarussian authorities and demanded an urgent and detailed explanation for this interruption,'' a spokesman for European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs told a news conference.

He said there was no immediate risk to oil supplies to the 27-nation European Union but the Commission was watching the situation very closely and would take precautionary measures.

''There is no reason to be alarmed now but we are going to take all necessary measures just in case,'' spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny said.

Russia's Druzhba pipeline stopped pumping overnight in a trade dispute between Moscow and Minsk over energy prices and transit fees, almost exactly a year after a brief interruption of Russian gas supplies to Western Europe through Ukraine in a pricing dispute caused widespread alarm.

That cut-off prompted EU leaders to agree to develop a common energy policy, for which the executive Commission is due to unveil detailed proposals on Wednesday.

The EU's oil supply group of national experts will meet later this week to consider the situation, the spokesman said.

There was no short-term need for the EU to put so-called solidarity arrangements into effect since Poland had oil stocks equivalent to more than 70 days of supply and Germany had more than 130 days' supply in its strategic oil reserve, he said.

The Commission had already been in touch with the Russian government despite the Orthodox Christmas holiday in Moscow.

REUTERS AB KN2052