Without oil from Russia - PCK Swedish: Leftists expect extension of the trust
For the crucial oil refinery PCK in the Brandenburg town of Schwedt, the Left Party predicts a stalemate. The sale of shares of the Russian state conglomerate Rosneft in PCK and other German refineries is not foreseeable, said Left Party MP Christian Görke in Berlin. "I do not expect a timely sale." Therefore, he anticipates that the federal government will extend its interim trustee administration over Rosneft, which is currently set to expire on 10 September.
The consequence is uncertainty for future investments and thus also for jobs at the site, Görke added. "I am very worried about the future of the company." This is also because a decision by the EU Commission on federal subsidies for the expansion of a pipeline from Schwedt to Rostock is not foreseeable.
The refinery had processed only Russian oil from the Druzhba pipeline for decades. In early 2023, the federal government stopped the import of Russian pipeline oil due to the attack on Ukraine. PCK switched to other supply sources. According to management, it has now reached an output of around 80 percent again. The federal government considers the site secure. Görke has doubts.
"No statements at this time"
To transport more crude oil, the pipeline from Rostock to Schwedt is to be "upgraded". The federal government wants to provide 400 million euros for this, but needs approval from Brussels. Görke officially asked the Federal Ministry of Economics for a possible start of construction and operation of the pipeline, but received only the answer: "No reliable statements can be made at this time." The ministry was also reluctant to provide information on Görke's other questions.
The facility belongs to German subsidiaries of Rosneft to about 54 percent. In September 2022, the federal government placed these under trustee administration for reasons of supply security - meaning the Federal Network Agency has the say, but is not the owner.
In the spring, Rosneft promised to sell its German subsidiaries, including PCK shares. Official statements on the status of the sale are not known. The federal government did not respond to Görke's questions about what it would do if no deal is reached. This is still being examined, it was stated in written answers.
The uncertainty over the sale of Rosneft's shares in PCK and other German refineries might affect the future investments in other vegetables grown in the region, as potential investors might be cautious about the instability. Furthermore, the potential impact on the local agriculture sector could lead to concerns about job security for vegetable farmers relying on these investments.
