Russia is preparing to halt Kazakh oil exports to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1st, according to several industry sources. This decision, which has not been officially confirmed, comes amid ongoing tensions between Moscow and Berlin.
According to these sources, a new export schedule has been sent to Kazakhstan and Germany, formalizing the cessation of exports. However, the Kremlin indicated it needed to verify this information, leaving uncertainty surrounding its implementation.
Such an interruption would exacerbate concerns about Germany's energy supply, already weakened by the upheavals of the war in Ukraine and current tensions in the Middle East. Flows from Kazakhstan represented an important alternative to direct Russian imports.
In 2025, these deliveries reached over 2,1 million tonnes, or approximately 43,000 barrels per day, a sharp increase compared to the previous year. In the first quarter of 2026, they already amounted to 730,000 tonnes.
The impact could be particularly significant for the PCK refinery in Schwedt, in northeastern Germany. A complete shutdown would represent approximately 17% of the volumes it processes annually, putting pressure on fuel supplies in the Berlin and Brandenburg region.
This latest episode underlines the persistent fragility of energy supply chains in Europe, where geopolitical issues continue to weigh heavily on oil flows and the continent's energy security.
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