Kazakh oil flow to Germany seen intact with Druzhba issue resolved, sources say
RoydadNaft – Pipeline operators in Poland and Russia agreed on a solution that will allow Kazakh oil transit to Germany to continue, removing a risk that it would stop in June, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Polish state-owned pipeline operator PERN had concerns it could breach Western sanctions against Russia, Polish sources familiar with the situation said earlier this year.
PERN, Russia’s state-controlled Transneft and Germany’s PCK Schwedt refinery agreed that a non-Russian company will service the oil flow meters on the Polish part of the Druzhba pipeline, sources in Poland, Germany and Russia said.
Transneft operates the Druzhba oil pipeline, one of the world’s largest, capable of carrying 2 million barrels per day. Flows through Druzhba have dropped sharply since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the European Union refused to buy Russian oil.
The northern leg of the Druzhba system, linking Germany via Poland and Belarus, is now used for Kazakhstan’s KEBCO oil exports for the Schwedt refinery, which supplies most of Berlin’s fuel.
A PERN spokeswoman said the company was working with contractors to find a solution that will be in line with the existing laws.
The Energy Ministry of Kazakhstan said in a written response to Reuters that “Kazakhstan and Russian parties have agreed to ship via Transneft and Druzhba trunk systems 1.2 mln tons of crude from Kazakhstan to Schwedt refinery”.
Transneft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Germany’s economy ministry declined to comment on company matters. A majority stake in the refinery has been under German government trusteeship since September 2022.
