Russia is set to halt oil exports from Kazakhstan to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, according to three industry sources familiar with the matter, Reuters reported.
The sources, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said an updated export schedule had already been sent to both Kazakhstan and Germany.
A suspension of Kazakh flows could further strain Germany’s fuel supply, as disruptions linked to the Iran war affect shipments from the Middle East, just years after Berlin’s long-standing energy ties with Russia were disrupted by the Ukraine conflict.
Kazakhstan exported 2.146 million metric tonnes of oil to Germany through the Druzhba pipeline in 2025 — about 43,000 barrels per day — marking a 44% increase from 2024. Supplies reached 730,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2026.
A full halt would remove roughly 17% of the up to 12 million metric tonnes processed annually by the PCK refinery, one of Germany’s largest refineries located in the northeastern town of Schwedt. Fuel from the plant powers 9 out of 10 vehicles in the Berlin and Brandenburg region.
Russia’s energy ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he was unaware of any decision to halt the exports.
“We will try to check it,” Peskov told reporters during a daily conference call.
Kazakhstan’s energy ministry and the German government also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Russia’s political and economic relations with Germany have been strained since the Ukraine war. Deliveries of Russian oil to Germany were halted after the conflict began, and Berlin placed local subsidiaries of Rosneft under trusteeship in 2022.
Since 2023, Kazakhstan has supplied oil to the PCK refinery through the northern branch of the Druzhba pipeline via Poland, although flows have been periodically disrupted by Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian pipeline infrastructure.
A spokesperson for Poland’s pipeline operator PERN said the company is prepared to transport oil for non-Russian stakeholders in the Schwedt refinery through the port of Gdansk if required.
Shareholders in the refinery include Rosneft, Shell and Eni.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
