Poland's deputy economy minister in charge of energy Piotr Naimski told journalists Monday that Poland would seek compensation if the stoppage of oil supplies via the Friendship pipeline in Belarus to Poland persisted.

According to Naimski, the stoppage resulted from a conflict between Russia and Belarus concerning customs duties and transit fees.

The Friendship pipeline reportedly carries 96 percent of Poland 's total demand for crude oil.

"We are unilaterally dependent on those supplies," Naimski noted.

The agreements under which Poland buys Russian crude provide for Russian responsibility for the continuity of supplies. "If the present situation persists, we will seek compensation," the PAP news agency quoted Naimski as saying.

The lack of oil supplies via the pipeline in Belarus will not make fuel prices go up at the pump, Naimski said and he added Poland had stockpiles of crude and fuels sufficient to cover demand for around 80 days.

Belarus announced last week it would charge an import duty of 45 U.S. dollars per metric ton of Russian oil shipped to Western Europe through Belarus. The announcement came after Russia decided to impose a duty of 180 dollars for each ton of oil exported to Belarus.

According to reports, dispute between the two countries caused disruption to oil deliveries from Russia to Poland from the night of Jan. 7.

Source: Xinhua