Future of the PCK refinery in Schwedt in the suspension: Federal Government asked!

Future of the PCK refinery in Schwedt in the suspension: Federal Government asked!

The future of the PCK refinery in Schwedt remains uncertain, because the federal government currently has no clear plans for the further development of the oil refinery. As the Süddeutsche the Ministry of Economic Affairs did not comment on the extension of the employment guarantee for the 1,200 PCK jobs beyond June 30th. This uncertainty provides numerous questions and is of great importance for the employees and the region.

The trust management, which has existed since the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022 and has been used to control the German subsidiaries of the Russian State Group Rosneft, is currently being extended until September 10, 2025. As the rbb24 , emphasizes Parliamentary State Secretary Michael Kellner the central role that plays the supply security. However, the progress in the Rosneft Germany sales process is under a certain cloud, because complaints against the trust orders have been put back, which is intended to minimize legal uncertainties.

A look at the challenges

The PCK refinery, which has traditionally been supplied with Russian oil from the Pipeline Druschba, faces enormous challenges. Germany has been without Russian pipeline oil since the beginning of 2023. The refinery has opened up alternative sources of supply, but is only 80 percent busy, which is worrying for the future of the location. A return to Russian oil is currently not foreseeable, which increases the uncertainty for operations and employees.

The contracts for delivery with Kazakh oil, which are valid until the beginning of 2026, do not contribute to the defusing of this situation. Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke has requested clear guarantees for the future of the PCK, while the left-wing MP Christian Görke sharply criticized the ministry's inadequate answers and demands a clear strategy for the owner structure before the parliamentary summer break begins.

political demands and views

The demand for expropriation of the Rosneft shares on the refinery by the federal government hovers in the air. On the other hand, the shares of the co -owner Shell from Brandenburg are to be taken over, so that a more stable foundation for the refinery is created even in times of economic turbulence. The existing trust management could also be legally regarded as a creeping expropriation, which only heats up the discussion about the best solution for the location.