MINSK, Nov. 22 – The trial pumping of oil in the direct mode through the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline is proceeding very slowly for technical reasons, and the process may take about a week, the Belarus Oil Company told Interfax-West.

"The trial pumping via Odessa-Brody started on Saturday [November 20], and it is still going on as of today," the company's spokesman said. "This is a complicated technical procedure, which is being carried out for the first time. Moreover, one has to take technical aspects into account. With due regard to these factors, one may forecast that the process in the trial mode won't be quick."