"The crisis is not affecting oil pumping in any way," the official in Transneft's central dispatch unit said.
Russian troops, who moved into Chechnya on Sunday, had been ordered to take control of local oil refining facilities and pipelines running through the territory, Interfax said over the weekend.
The big refinery at Dolinskoye, around which fierce clashes took place between rebels and Russian troops Monday, has been working well below capacity for some time, oil industry sources in Moscow said.
The refinery can process up to 12 million tons of crude oil a year, but industry sources say it has lost many of its Russian specialists since Chechnya declared independence in 1991, triggering a long period of tension with Moscow.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
