The European Commission is pressing Germany to halt oil supplies arriving through the Druzhba pipeline as part of broader sanctions aimed at Moscow. EU observers referenced a draft document in reporting the move, underscoring a shift in how the bloc intends to constrain energy flows from Russia. The draft states clearly that the temporary exemption allowing Germany to receive Russian crude via the northern leg of the Druzhba line should be allowed to lapse, signaling a tightening of import rules that affect European energy chemistry and price dynamics.
In the near-term assessment woven into the draft, other member states — namely Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia — may still continue to import oil routed through the same pipeline. The document outlines a phased approach, leaving room for transitional arrangements for those nations that rely on Druzhba deliveries while accelerating diversification efforts and the search for alternative supply routes. This nuance reflects the bloc’s balancing act between punitive measures and the risk of supply disruptions across Central Europe.
Separately, Poland’s largest oil refinery operator, PKN Orlen, has said that restrictions on Russian crude costs the company roughly 27 million dollars each day. The company’s leadership notes that sourcing Russian oil via Druzhba incurs about an extra 30 dollars per barrel compared with other potential suppliers, a calculation attributed to President Daniel Obaitek. The figures point to a domestic financial impact on refining margins and to broader questions about the region’s energy affordability and security.
Despite the push to restrict new Russian flows, the refinery at Litvinov continues to receive Russian crude piped through Druzhba, illustrating the complex, real-time realities of supply chains in the European energy system. Analysts say this ongoing use signals the intricate lag between policy intent and operational practice, where strategic stock, refinery capacity, and contractual arrangements all interact to shape how quickly and where cutbacks can be implemented without triggering unintended shortages. [citation: EU draft document]