Up to 80% of crude oil supplies for Germany’s PCK Schwedt refinery secured for May

BERLIN — Up to 80% of crude oil supplies for Germany’s PCK Schwedt refinery are secured for May, the state government of Brandenburg said, as the country moves to replace Russian deliveries following Moscow’s decision to halt shipments through the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1.

Brandenburg State Premier Dietmar Woidke said the refinery’s operations remain stable after a task force meeting held Wednesday to assess the impact of the announcement.

“PCK’s capacity utilization remains stable, with crude oil supplies secured at up to 80% in May, and jobs are safeguarded,” Woidke said. “This allows us to look to the future with optimism.”

He added that German authorities are working closely with international partners to ensure continued supply for the refinery, which is a key fuel producer for northeastern Germany and parts of Poland.

Frank Wetzel, state secretary at Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, said efforts are underway to replace the lost Russian crude with alternative sources.

“The German government is currently working closely with PCK to replace lost crude oil supplies through alternative sources,” Wetzel said after the meeting. “This includes, in particular, discussions on how quickly additional supplies can be secured via Gdansk.”

Wetzel was referring to the Polish Baltic Sea port, which is being considered as a potential route for increased imports. The Polish energy ministry said earlier that the country has the technical capacity to handle higher volumes, although actual increases would depend on operational, logistical, and market conditions.

Kazakhstan has become one of the key suppliers to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline route. Last year, oil exports from Kazakhstan to Germany totaled 2.146 million metric tons, or about 43,000 barrels per day, marking a 44% increase from 2024. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, shipments reached 730,000 tons.

Germany has been accelerating efforts to diversify its energy supply chain since reducing dependence on Russian oil following the war in Ukraine, with Schwedt refinery remaining a central focus due to its strategic importance. -Reporting by Madeline Chambers, editing by Thomas Seythal/Reuters