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Future of the PCK refinery in Schwedt in limbo: Federal government asked!
The PCK refinery in Schwedt faces challenges: unclear future plans, continued trust management and job guarantees.
Future of the PCK refinery in Schwedt in limbo: 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 South Germans reported, 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 raises numerous questions and is of great importance for employees and the region.
The trust administration, which has existed since the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022 and was used to control the German subsidiaries of the Russian state-owned company Rosneft, is currently being extended until September 10, 2025. As the rbb24 Parliamentary State Secretary Michael Kellner emphasizes the central role that security of supply plays. However, the progress in the sale process of Rosneft Germany is under a certain cloud, as lawsuits against the trust orders have been put on hold, which should minimize legal uncertainties.
A look at the challenges
The PCK refinery, which has traditionally been supplied with Russian oil from the Druzhba pipeline, is facing enormous challenges. Germany has stopped using Russian pipeline oil since the beginning of 2023. The refinery has developed alternative sources of supply but is only operating at 80 percent capacity, which is worrying for the future of the site. A return to Russian oil is currently not foreseeable, which increases uncertainty for operations and employees.
The contracts for the supply of Kazakh oil, which are valid until the beginning of 2026, do not help to defuse this situation. Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke has called for clear guarantees for the future of the PCK, while left-wing MP Christian Görke sharply criticized the ministry's inadequate responses and called for a clear strategy for the ownership structure before the parliamentary summer break begins.
Political demands and outlook
The demand for the federal government to expropriate Rosneft's shares in the refinery is in the air. On the other hand, the shares of the co-owner Shell are to be taken over by Brandenburg, so that a more stable foundation is created for the refinery even in times of economic turbulence. The existing trust administration could also be legally viewed as creeping expropriation, which only further fuels the discussion about the best solution for the location.
In summary, the PCK refinery in Schwedt is in a critical situation. The federal government must put its cards on the table and develop a sustainable strategy to meet the new challenges in energy supply. The sales initiative run by Rosneft could also pose both risks and opportunities for the future of the site, as on the side of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection is to be read.