Russia has confirmed the suspension of Kazakh oil transit to Germany through the "Druzhba" pipeline, citing technical malfunctions. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, this move is expected to impact the supply chain for refineries located in eastern Germany.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the disruption is purely technical and emphasized that Kazakhstan's export interests would be protected through the consideration of alternative routes. The suspension specifically affects the Schwedt refinery in Germany, which relies on Kazakh crude for approximately 20-30% of its requirements. Kazakhstan's total annual oil export volume stands at approximately 80 million tons, with the "Druzhba" pipeline traditionally handling 3 million tons, though this figure was recorded at 2.1 million tons in 2025.
The "Druzhba" pipeline, one of the world's longest oil pipeline networks, remains a critical piece of energy infrastructure connecting Russia and Central Asian producers to European markets. While Germany has sought to diversify its energy sources following geopolitical shifts in the region, Kazakh oil has served as a vital alternative to Russian grades. Meanwhile, Slovakia has announced the resumption of its own supplies via the pipeline following a prolonged hiatus. The restoration of transit through the Ukrainian section of the pipeline coincided with Hungary lifting its veto on a 90-billion-euro "European Union" credit package for Ukraine. Although Kyiv attributed the pause to necessary repair works, officials in Budapest and Bratislava had previously accused the Ukrainian side of intentionally delaying the process.
Key indicators regarding Kazakhstan's oil exports:
- Total annual export volume is approximately 80 million tons.
- Traditionally, 3 million tons are transported via the "Druzhba" pipeline (this figure was 2.1 million tons in 2025).
- Kazakh oil meets 20-30% of the demand of Germany's Schwedt refinery.
