Russia to block Kazakh oil flow to German refinery, Berlin says
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Germany has learned that Russia plans to halt the flow of Kazakh oil through the Druzhba pipeline to a refinery in eastern Germany starting May 1, according to the energy ministry in Berlin. Rosneft Germany, the German subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned oil company, informed German regulators that the Russian energy ministry ordered the halt, though Moscow has not directly confirmed this to the German government. This development occurs amidst Russia’s war against Ukraine and a global energy crisis. Rosneft Germany is assessing the implications for the PCK refinery, which supplies fuel to the Berlin region, and is exploring options to ensure supply security. German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius stated that changes in pipeline output will not significantly restrict refinery operations, and the overall supply situation remains unchanged. The economy ministry added that the lack of Kazakh oil deliveries does not jeopardize Germany's mineral oil product supply, even if the PCK refinery operates at lower capacity, as it has another pipeline connection to the Baltic Sea port of Rostock for potential seaborne deliveries. The Kazakh oil was sourced for the PCK refinery to replace Russian crude imports after Germany took Rosneft Germany into trusteeship following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and EU sanctions.
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