Western oil majors Total and Eni have suspended payments to the Russian companies that sold them contaminated crude via the Druzhba pipeline, in a new controversy in what trading sources described to Reuters as the “biggest Russian oil supply disruption ever.” Last month, Russia halted supplies via the Druzhba oil pipeline to several European countries due to a contamination issue, which the Russians say was deliberate . The oil was contaminated with organic chlorine, a substance used in oil production to boost output but dangerous in high amounts for refining equipment. The amounts of the chemical were found to be at levels much higher than the maximum allowable amount. According to Russia’s energy ministry, normal deliveries via the pipeline are expected to resume in the second half of May. Russian pipeline operator Transneft will compensate its customers for the losses they have sustained due to the contaminated crude oil, […]