Russia to suspend oil exports to Germany via Druzhba pipeline

Russia Announces Suspension of Kazakh Oil Shipments to Germany via Druzhba Pipeline

Moscow has confirmed that it will suspend shipments of Kazakh oil to Germany through the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1. The decision, attributed to “technical” reasons, will redirect volumes previously transported via the pipeline to other available logistics routes.

According to Alexander Novak, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, the redirection is due to current technical capacities. He stated that the Germans have shifted their focus away from Russian oil, and alternative arrangements will be made.

The Druzhba pipeline, which spans through Russian territory, has two branches: one running through Ukraine to Hungary, and another through Belarus and Poland to Germany. The suspension of Kazakh oil shipments via this pipeline is expected to impact the PCK refinery in Berlin, which relies heavily on imported fuel for petrol, kerosene, and heating supplies.

The move comes amid a growing global energy crisis, partly attributed to disruptions caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. German regulators have been informed of the planned suspension through Rosneft Deutschland’s subsidiary, which is assessing the implications and adapting to any new situation.

According to Germany’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, existing options will be utilized to ensure security of supply in Germany, even if PCK Schwedt operates at a lower capacity. The ministry emphasizes that the absence of Kazakh oil deliveries does not ultimately jeopardize the security of mineral oil product supplies in Germany.

Source: Al Jazeera