The ban on importing Russian oil through pipelines enters into force in Germany

BERLIN, 1 Jan. (DPA/EP) -

The ban on importing Russian oil through pipelines, mainly the Druzhba pipeline, came into force this Sunday in Germany after the European Union restricted Russian oil transported by sea in October and decided not to limit the transportation of crude oil by pipeline.

The EU decided in October to block maritime transport related to the shipment of crude oil to third countries since December. Said measure will also affect petroleum products as of February 2023.

However, the European club determined that the restrictions would not affect crude oil arriving through the pipeline, something that countries such as Hungary and other landlocked European partners demanded due to their heavy dependence on Russian oil.

Both Germany and Poland pledged not to make use of these exceptions and to stop using oil from the Druzhba pipeline as of January 1. Now, with the entry into force of this measure, the German Government has ensured that the supply is assured after fears that this could cause an energy deficit.

The German measure, which comes at the beginning of 2023, affects the large refineries located in Schwedt, in the state of Brandenburg, and Leuna, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, which supply fuel to the east of the European country.

According to the PCK refinery in Schwedt, in the state of Brandenburg, more than a billion tons of crude oil reached Germany from Russia via the pipeline, which dates back to the early 1960s.

Substitute supplies will now enter partly through the port of Rostock and also through the Polish port of Gdansk, as well as from Kazakhstan. During this transition, the two affected refineries expect a lower utilization rate.