MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s state-owned pipeline company Transneft began supplying Germany with crude oil from Kazakhstan on Monday through the Druzhba pipeline. On the other hand, crude oil supply to Poland, which is a transit point, was stopped. This was reported by several Russian media outlets.
On December 5, 2022, the European Union (EU) banned the import of Russian crude oil by sea into the region. However, in order to secure supplies to the landlocked countries of the EU, imports through pipelines continue.
Kazakh oil pipeline operator Kaztransoil said on Monday it had shipped 20,000 tons of crude oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline.
Landlocked Kazakhstan is heavily dependent on its neighbor Russia for energy exports and is not subject to Western sanctions.
Citing Transneft, TASS reported that as of late February, the paperwork for oil supplies to Poland had not been completed, cutting off supplies to Polish customers.
Polish refiner PKN Oren said on Monday it had cut supplies from Russia and said it would make up the shortfall from other sources. PKN said on Wednesday that it has no business relationship with Transneft.
Oil supplies to Slovakia and the Czech Republic via the southern part of the Druzhba pipeline continue as normal, according to several oil pipeline operators.
