At least since the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has been looking for alternative sources of oil. One was also found in Kazakhstan. The problem: The Druschba pipeline has to be used to supply the PCK refinery in Schwedt, Brandenburg. This was previously also used for the Russian oil. As a result, Russian oil continues to arrive in Schwedt, like this
“Handelsblatt”
reported. Although there has been an EU-wide embargo on Russian oil since the beginning of 2013.
Government and industry sources are reporting that it would be “nearly technically impossible” to completely remove molecules of Russian oil from the pipeline. Even after cleaning, residues remained in the line. Insiders would even assume that the shares in Russian oil are significantly higher than assumed. It is quite possible that Kazakhstan will send its own oil to Russia and the oil there will be sold to Germany, the report continues.
Origins of German crude oil deliveries cannot be checked
Since Kazakh and Russian oil have very similar properties, it is not possible to check the origin. “There is still Russian oil in the pipeline, and it cannot simply be pumped out. The oil is needed so that the pressure for the flow does not decrease,” confirms a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Economics.
Criticism of the German approach to the oil question comes from the opposition. Loud
CDU
Politician Jan Redmann has been running since the embargo on Russian oil, “the federal government has been following its promise to procure sufficient crude oil for Schwedt so that the refinery can be operated economically”. He believes that by mixing the oil, Russia could put further pressure on Germany’s energy supply.
Federal government: No Russian oil bought or ordered in 2023
The government sees it differently: in 2023, German refineries would not have bought or ordered any Russian oil. This takes account of the sanctions. In addition, the mixing of crude oils does not contradict any EU regulations, the Federal Ministry of Economics said when asked by the “Handelsblatt”.
In Poland, the federal government, together with the other PCK shareholders Shell and Eni, has found another alternative supplier for oil. The first deliveries from Gdansk have already been made. That the refinery in Schwedt is majority owned by the German subsidiary of the Russian oil company Rosneft and is under trusteeship by the
Federal Network Agency
was asked, but does not go down well there.
The Polish Ministry of Climate informed the “Handelsblatt” that this could only be an interim solution, which “does not meet the expectations of the Polish side”. However, the federal government has initially extended the trusteeship by six months. Poland, on the other hand, is determined to rule out Russia benefiting in any way from the refinery.
