Russia is preparing to stop the transit of oil from Kazakhstan to Germany via the ‘Druzhba’ pipeline starting May 1. This concerns the northern branch of the pipeline that runs through Polish territory.
This is reported by Finway
Consequences for oil refining in Germany
The main consumer of Kazakh oil is the PCK refinery located in the city of Schwedt, one of the largest industrial centers in Germany. After Berlin refused to import Russian raw materials, this refinery switched to Kazakh oil. Deliveries from Kazakhstan to PCK have been ongoing since 2023, but have been repeatedly interrupted due to drone attacks on Russian oil pipeline infrastructure.
Searching for alternative supply routes
The Polish pipeline operator PERN confirms its readiness to provide alternative routes for non-Russian shareholders of the PCK refinery through the port of Gdansk. This will help minimize risks associated with the potential cessation of transit through ‘Druzhba’.
According to an updated export schedule already sent to Kazakhstan and Germany, in 2025, the supply of Kazakh oil to Germany via the Russian ‘Druzhba’ pipeline is expected to be approximately 43,000 barrels per day, which is a 44% increase compared to 2024.
Kazakhstan has been supplying oil to this refinery since 2023. Meanwhile, deliveries have been repeatedly interrupted due to drone attacks on Russian pipeline infrastructure.