BRATISLAVA, April 23. /TASS/. Some 13,500 tons of oil will be delivered to Slovakia on Thursday via the Druzhba pipeline, which has resumed operations, the republic’s Prime Minister Robert Fico said.

"Today, 13,500 tons should be delivered [to Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline], and by the end of April, according to the delivery schedule, 119,000 tons of oil should be received," the premier was quoted as saying by the TASR information agency.

Fico recalled that Russian oil supplied via the Druzhba pipeline is primarily destined for the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava, which produces motor fuel exported to other Central European countries. The plant, which is currently operating at full capacity, processes about 17,000 tons of oil daily.

The premier expressed hope that Kiev’s leadership will not halt oil pumping through the Druzhba pipeline. "I believe that a serious attitude [of the Ukrainian authorities toward Slovakia’s needs] is emerging amid the unblocking [by the European Union] of the 90 bln euros loan [for Ukraine] and the anti-Russian sanctions. I think that the opening of the Druzhba pipeline this morning at 2:00 a.m. local time (3:00 a.m. Moscow time, or 12:00 a.m. GMT - TASS) clearly confirms that it was not damaged, but rather used as a tool in the geopolitical standoff," he said.

Fico thanked the European Commission (EC) for its support in resolving the issue of restoring the pipeline. "I would also like to express my gratitude to the EC representatives, because at my meeting with EC President [Ursula von der Leyen], I saw her interest in restoring the flow of oil through the Druzhba pipeline since this issue is linked to energy security in Central Europe," he said.

The Czech Republic, in particular, has expressed interest in importing motor fuel produced at Slovnaft. The republic is negotiating with Slovakia regarding the possibility of such supplies, Karel Havlicek, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Trade, said on Thursday, adding that this is due to the threat of disruptions to imports from Germany.