It was urgent that we organise an oil delivery to Cuba on a massive scale.

In the three weeks that Haiti has been cut off from foreign oil deliveries, this country's economy has come to a near halt.

The exchange said it was the first such disruption since trading of contracts for crude oil delivery began in 1983.

Instead, Rosneft said the money was pledged for future oil deliveries through 2010.

The suspension of the oil deliveries may have far less of an effect than had been anticipated.

The government insisted that oil deliveries would be met.

If the pilot program goes well, Washington will consider helping to expand the oil deliveries.

In 2011, a dispute rose over payments for oil delivery through the pipeline.

It would affect oil deliveries to the United States, and a shortage could drive up prices.

Proponents say it would cut the cost of oil delivery to Asia by about $0.50/barrel ($3/m).