Russia is set to halt the transit of Kazakhstani crude oil to Germany through the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, in a move that threatens to reduce capacity at one of Germany's most strategically important refineries. Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov confirmed the suspension on Wednesday, saying that while no formal notification had arrived from Moscow, "from unofficial sources, we know it's true." The German government also announced the impending halt after being informed by Rosneft Deutschland, though Berlin said it had yet to receive official confirmation from the Russian side. The Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said he was unaware of the matter and directed questions to the companies involved.
At the centre of the disruption is the PCK refinery in Schwedt, a town in the northeastern German state of Brandenburg. The facility, which supplies a large share of petrol, heating fuel, and jet fuel to Berlin and the surrounding region, stopped receiving Russian crude in 2023 following Germany's decision to cut off Russian oil imports after the invasion of Ukraine. Since then, it has relied on Kazakhstani oil — approximately 100,000 to 120,000 tonnes per month — delivered via the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Russian territory. Russia's stated justification for the suspension is a lack of "technical capacity" to pump Kazakhstani oil. Akkenzhenov suggested the problems may be linked to recent strikes on Russian infrastructure, though he described this as his own assumption.
The Kazakhstani minister indicated that the suspension currently applies to May, but warned that Russia had reported zero transit volumes for the entire second quarter of 2026. Kazakhstan exports up to 200,000 barrels per day to German refineries through this route, though the Druzhba corridor represents only a small share of the country's total oil exports. Astana has said it does not plan to cut production and that unshipped volumes will be redirected through alternative routes.
The PCK refinery in Schwedt is 54% owned by German subsidiaries of the Russian state energy company Rosneft, which have been under German government trusteeship since 2022. Rosneft Deutschland said it was examining how to ensure substitute supplies so the refinery could continue operating at full capacity. Germany's Economy Ministry sought to reassure the public, with a spokesperson stating that energy security would not be significantly compromised and that alternative supply arrangements were being developed, particularly for jet fuel.
The timing is notable. The suspension comes as global energy markets are already under strain from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally flows. European airlines, including Germany's Lufthansa, are already cancelling thousands of flights through October due to jet fuel shortages — making the loss of kerosene output from Schwedt an especially sensitive issue. Analysts and officials will be watching closely whether Russia's "technical" explanation holds up, or whether the move reflects broader geopolitical pressure.