Russia to block Kazakh oil flows to Germany via key pipeline

Key Points:

• Russia plans to halt Kazakhstan's oil exports to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, threatening the PCK refinery near Berlin, which supplies over 90% of the region's petrol, diesel, and heating oil.
• The PCK refinery, seized by Germany from Russian control after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has increasingly relied on Kazakh crude transported through Russia but also sources oil from ports in Rostock and Poland.
• The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy stated that while the pipeline stoppage would reduce the refinery's capacity, it would not endanger Germany's overall petroleum supply, with Rosneft Germany committed to fulfilling supply obligations.
• The move comes amid a global energy crisis exacerbated by the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz closure, impacting jet fuel supplies and causing airlines like Lufthansa to cut flights.
• Experts warn Russia continues to use energy exports as leverage against Europe, emphasizing the urgency for the EU to fully end Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027 under the REPowerEU plan.