Kazakhstan to ship oil via Russian ports amid Druzhba pipeline issues

Germany is actively exploring alternative supply routes for crude oil to the Schwedt refinery after Russia announced it would cease Kazakh oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, citing technical difficulties. Kazakhstan, a key supplier, has announced plans to reroute approximately 260,000 tons of oil intended for Schwedt. This oil will now travel through Russian ports like Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea and utilize the Caspian Pipeline Consortium system, with the oil then being shipped by sea. While Kazakhstan states this is to ensure export stability, the final destination remains uncertain. The German government, through the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, is in discussions with Poland to assess the feasibility of temporary, short-term deliveries via the port of Gdansk. Berlin has affirmed its readiness to support the Schwedt refinery in securing substitute crude oil supplies. Despite the potential for reduced capacity at Schwedt, the ministry assured that Germany's overall supply security of petroleum products is not endangered.

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100,000 tons go via Ust-Luga and 160,000 tons via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium system.