A pipeline that brings Russian oil to Western and Central Europe is patched and working normally again, a Polish company said after a leak that prompted questions about sabotage and the pipeline’s future.

The Polish company, Pern, said it sees no reason to suspect sabotage.

“Based on initial assessments and the manner and way that the pipeline is formed, there are no hints as of now of outsider tampering.”

Fears are high about Russian fuel supplies since the country cut off several pipelines providing gas to the West in apparent protest at sanctions levied on it for invading Ukraine.

The EU is also set to ban seaborne Russian oil imports soon, but pipeline shipments are set to still be allowed.

However, when reports first came about the damage to the Druzhba pipeline, many people immediately thought of the Nord Stream I and II gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea, which were damaged in September by a blast.

Many analysts have argued that the blast was intentional, and some have said it could have been a Russian act.

The leak in the Druzhba line was found on Wednesday, about 70 kilometres from the central Polish city of Plock. 

(dpa/NAN)