Pipeline explosion in Dagestan sabotage

The Federal Security Service (FSB) in Dagestan (North Caucasus) opened criminal case for sabotage based on the facts of an explosion in the Tikhoretsk-Baku pipeline, the public relations group of the FSB in Dagestan told RIA Novosti.

According to the FSB, "external influences" have been established in the explosion. They noted that at the moment of the explosion, the 720 mm diameter section of the pipeline was pumping hydrocarbons under 24 atmospheres of pressure.

Conclusions about type of explosive will be made after the investigation, the group said.

According to Transneft, the line operator, work to repair the damaged section of the pipeline will be completed on Monday and then Caspian oil from Azerbaijan will again be delivered to terminals on the Black Sea (Novorossiisk).

The Emergencies Ministry told RIA Novosti that there were no victims in the explosion and that there was no damage to the environment. The volume of oil lost was 110 cubic meters.

The explosion occurred on the night of June 20 on a section of the pipeline in Almalo, a settlement north of Makhachkala. Two Emergencies Ministry special firefighting units and five fire trucks arrived at the scene. The fire was extinguished by 4:22 a.m.