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Arctic oil bound for Europe, Gazprom Neft says

Third tanker set for loading.

By Daniel J. Graeber

MOSCOW, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Russian oil company Gazprom Neft said Monday the second tanker of oil taken from an arctic field was delivered to European customers.

Gazprom Neft confirmed a tanker filled with 200,000 barrels of oil was shipped to markets in northwest Europe last week. It was the second tanker of oil delivered from the Novoportovskoye field at the Yamal Peninsula.

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Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian energy company Gazprom, said the oil is designated as Novy Port, which it said was "superior" in quality to the global benchmark, Brent.

"A third tanker is currently being prepared for shipment," the company said in a statement.

Changes in global weather patterns are leaving parts of the arctic region ice-free for longer periods of time. Gazprom Neft said it confirmed in 2011 that using a nuclear-powered icebreaker would facilitate transportation of oil from the port on the northern peninsula, where pipeline infrastructure is lacking.

Any technology used to build a pipeline would "have minimal impact on the environment," the company said.

Oil work in the pristine arctic environment has raised concerns from environmental advocacy groups.

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