The German government has introduced external management at Rosneft Deutschland, which accounts for 12% of the country’s oil refining capacity, as well as RN Refining & Marketing.
Rosneft Deutschland, a ‘daughter’ of Rosneft, which is one of the largest oil refining companies in Germany, owns shares in three refineries: PCK Schwedt in the city of Schwedt, MiRo in Karlsruhe and Bayernoil in Faubourg.
In its statement, the Ministry of Economy of the Russian Federation explained this step as a ‘threat to the security of the supply of energy resources’ to Germany. The introduction of external management should neutralize this threat.
In addition, it is designed to ensure the safe operation of the refinery in Schwedt, where ‘Rosneft’ has a controlling stake (54%) and which is, in fact, a city-building enterprise.
The plant employs many of the city’s residents and local businesses depend on it, and all of them, as well as Schwedt’s government, feared for their future after the embargo on purchases of Russian oil took effect in December.
The Ministry of Economy has promised to take measures to ensure alternative supplies to the refinery in Schwedt, which currently receives oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Built in the 1960s, the refinery is the main source of fuel for Berlin, providing 90% of the supply, including gasoline, diesel and jet kerosene for aircraft at Berlin Airport.
Similarly, the German authorities took control of Gazprom’s local ‘daughter’ – Gazprom Germania – in April. It was also reported that Germany confiscated three Gazprom tankers.
