Briefing · May 1, 2026
● Oil Markets · May 1, 2026

Russia Halts Kazakh Oil Transit to Germany via Druzhba Northern Leg — PCK Schwedt Refinery Supplying 90% of Berlin Fuel Directly Affected

Russia has suspended the transit of Kazakh crude oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline's northern leg effective May 1, 2026, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed on April 22 (Al Jazeera). The stated reason is 'technical' — attributed to infrastructure damage from recent Ukrainian drone strikes. The suspension halts deliveries to the PCK Schwedt refinery in eastern Germany, a massive facility 62 miles northeast of Berlin that supplies approximately 90% of the fuel consumed by vehicles in the German capital and surrounding regions (Pipeline Technology Journal, April 28).

Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov confirmed the halt through unofficial channels on April 22, stating: 'There are zero volumes for May and currently for the second quarter.' Kazakhstan has responded by redistributing 260,000 tonnes of oil to alternative routes: 100,000 tonnes to the port of Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea and 160,000 tonnes through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) system — the same terminal that was attacked by Ukrainian drones on April 6 and is currently operating at approximately 65% capacity (Moscow Times, April 28).

The development adds a new dimension to Europe's energy supply stress. The PCK Schwedt refinery, seized from Rosneft by German authorities in 2022, has been receiving Kazakh crude as a Russian oil alternative since 2023. Germany exported approximately 2.1 million tonnes of crude oil (about 43,000 barrels per day) from Kazakhstan through this route in 2025. The sudden loss of this feedstock comes as Berlin already faces elevated fuel costs from the Hormuz disruption and refinery utilisation pressure across Europe.

The CPC rerouting option carries its own risk: Ukraine's April 6 drone strike on CPC Novorossiysk damaged the offshore mooring pipeline, berth, and four storage tanks, reducing loading capacity to approximately 65% with force majeure still active and repair timeline unconfirmed. Ust-Luga, the alternative Baltic port, has also been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drones in recent weeks.

Why It Matters

The Druzhba northern leg halt is geopolitically significant beyond its immediate barrel count (~43,000 b/d). It confirms that the Hormuz disruption is now layering onto pre-existing infrastructure fragility in European supply chains. Germany cannot easily replace PCK Schwedt feedstock in the near term — the Adria pipeline alternative is costly and has limited spare capacity. For energy security planners, the week of May 1 now features three simultaneous pipeline pressures: Druzhba northern halt, CPC at 65% capacity, and IGAT-6 Iran-Turkey contract expiring in July with no negotiations started.

This briefing was published on May 1, 2026 by Global Energy Flow. For the current real-time picture, see the main dashboard or latest weekly intelligence.

Sources are tracked in the source files of the underlying disruption and are available on each topic page (shortages, oil pipelines, gas pipelines, storage, marine traffic).