Russia Plans to Stop Oil Deliveries from Kazakhstan to Germany
Russia intends to halt the transit of Kazakhstan oil to Germany starting May 1, which raises new concerns regarding the stability of fuel supply.
According to three industry sources familiar with the matter, Russia will stop oil exports from Kazakhstan to Germany through the Druzhba pipeline beginning May 1, as reported by Reuters.
According to sources who spoke to Reuters under the condition of anonymity, an updated export schedule has already been dispatched to both Kazakhstan and Germany.
The suspension of Kazakh flows may exacerbate Germany’s fuel supply issues, as disruptions related to the Iran war impact shipments from the Middle East, occurring just years after Berlin’s established energy connections with Russia were interrupted by the Ukraine conflict.
In 2025, Kazakhstan exported 2.146 million metric tonnes of oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline, which translates to approximately 43,000 barrels per day. This figure represents a 44% increase compared to 2024. In the first quarter of 2026, supplies amounted to 730,000 tonnes.
A complete shutdown would eliminate approximately 17% of the up to 12 million metric tons processed each year by the PCK refinery, which is one of Germany’s largest refineries situated in the northeastern town of Schwedt. The fuel produced by the plant powers 90% of vehicles in the Berlin and Brandenburg area.
The energy ministry of Russia has not yet provided a response to requests for comment. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated that he was not informed of any decision to stop the exports.
“We will make an effort to verify it,” Peskov informed reporters during a routine conference call.
The energy ministry of Kazakhstan and the German government have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
The political and economic relations between Russia and Germany have experienced tension since the onset of the Ukraine war. Following the onset of the conflict, deliveries of Russian oil to Germany were suspended, and in 2022, Berlin placed the local subsidiaries of Rosneft under trusteeship.
Since 2023, Kazakhstan has been supplying oil to the PCK refinery through the northern branch of the Druzhba pipeline via Poland, though the flow has faced periodic disruptions due to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian pipeline infrastructure.
A representative from Poland’s pipeline operator PERN stated that the company is ready to transport oil for non-Russian stakeholders at the Schwedt refinery via the port of Gdansk if necessary.
The refinery’s shareholders comprise Rosneft, Shell, and Eni.
