Russia to dam Kazakh oil flows to Germany by way of key pipeline | EUROtoday

Russia plans to cease oil exports from Kazakhstan to Germany by way of the Druzhba pipeline from May 1, threatening a key refinery which provides the overwhelming majority of diesel, petrol and heating oil wanted for the town of Berlin.

The PCK refinery, situated within the city of Schwedt about 100 kilometers (62.13 miles) north of Berlin, receives oil provides by way of the pipeline. Previously run by Russian oil main Rosneft, the German authorities seized the refinery’s operations following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Since 2022, the refinery has imported Kazakh crude oil in rising volumes, which is transported from the Central Asian nation, throughout Russian territory, to Berlin.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy confirmed the information to DW in an announcement.

“Rosneft Germany has informed the Federal Network Agency, acting as trustee, that, following instructions from the Russian Ministry of Energy, the transit of Kazakh crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline across Russian territory to the PCK refinery is prohibited as of May 1, 2026,” the ministry stated.

“The Russian Federation has not yet confirmed this to the German government. Rosneft Germany is currently assessing the implications and will adapt to any changes in the situation,” it added.

Reuters first reported the information on Tuesday, April 21, quoting a number of business sources.

An important refinery

The refinery provides Berlin and the encircling area with greater than 90% of their petrol, diesel and heating gasoline.

However, the refinery is just not fully depending on oil from Kazakhstan. Since 2022, most of its oil comes from ports, corresponding to in Rostock and in Poland, and never by way of the Druzhba pipeline

However, a whole halt to deliveries by way of Druzhba would current a significant problem as about 17% of the virtually 12 million metric tons of oil a yr processed by the refinery comes by way of that hyperlink.

“The cessation of Kazakh oil deliveries to the PCK refinery does not ultimately jeopardize the security of supply of petroleum products in Germany, even though PCK Schwedt would have to operate at a reduced capacity,” a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy advised DW.

The ministry stated Rosneft Germany, the subsidiary of Russian state-owned Rosneft which is now underneath the management of the German state, would “fulfil its obligations” and “will utilize existing options to ensure security of supply in Germany.”

PCK didn’t reply to DW’s request for remark. While the refinery is prone to have sufficient alternate options to take care of a lot of its provide, the information comes as Europe and different elements of the world are grappling with one of the crucial severe vitality crises in a long time.

The warfare in Iran and the continuing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has diminished the circulate of oil to Europe and Asia, and has seen costs hovering.

Kerosene, wanted for jet gasoline and a key product from the PCK refinery, is in notably brief provide at current on account of the disaster. Airlines world wide have been compelled to chop flights, with Lufthansa slashing 20,000 from its May to October schedule this week.

‘Threatening Europe’s vitality safety’

Russia has repeatedly tried to weaponize vitality exports because it started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The warfare finally led the EU to pivot away from its reliance on Russian oil and fuel.

Since the warfare started, the EU’s dependency on Russian fuel has fallen from 45% of general fuel imports to 12% in 2025. For oil, the determine has fallen from 27% to 2%. The REPower EU Regulation goals to fully finish the import of Russian oil and fuel by 2027.

Benjamin Hilgenstock, a senior economist on the Kyiv School of Economics, stated Russia will proceed to threaten Europe’s financial and vitality safety at any time when it could possibly.

“This news illustrates, once again, that Russia will retain the ability to threaten European energy security until all imports from and through Russia have stopped,” he advised DW.

“Evidently, even purportedly small overall volumes can be quite sensitive for certain countries, regions, or refineries. Germany, and the EU, should complete the exit from Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible, with no further delays to the REPowerEU agenda.”

An advanced future

The Russian authorities has not but commented on the information. However, final month, Russian President Vladimir Putin overtly referred to as for his authorities to “explore the feasibility” of chopping vitality provides to Europe.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov just lately criticized the EU for persevering with to sanction and reject Russian oil regardless of the continuing disaster within the Middle East.

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov has steered that the closure of provides by way of the pipeline is also resulting from technical issues prompted on account of Ukrainian drone assaults on Russia’s vitality infrastructure.

Kazakhstan started sending the primary batches of crude to Schwedt in January 2023. Up till then, the refinery had been fed virtually solely with Russian oil.

While the most recent information is a blow, the refinery’s profitable pivot away from Russian oil since 2022 suggests it’s well-placed to search out alternate options ought to provide by way of Druzhba be reduce off completely.

Even earlier than the most recent information, the PCK refinery has been a supply of deep uncertainty for Germany’s vitality future.

Still owned by Russia however run by Germany, it’s presently exempted from American sanctions focusing on Rosneft. That exemption was resulting from expire on April 29 however was prolonged in March, with out a particular finish date being given.

The sanctions prohibit Western corporations and prospects coping with Rosneft however the German authorities intensely lobbied Washington to permit the refinery to proceed operations, given its strategic significance.

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru