“In an exceptional situation, exceptional measures.” Olaf Scholz’s government collapsed “a solution of last resort” to secure the national energy supply, reports theAugsburg General. He announced on Friday, September 16, that the German activities of the Russian oil giant Rosneft would now be controlled by the state, in view of the embargo on Russian oil planned for the start of 2023.
“Vladimir Putin is at least offside in Vohburg, Schwedt and Karlsruhe”, rejoiced the Bavarian newspaper after this announcement. The refineries in these three German cities have until now been operated by subsidiaries Rosneft Germany (RDG) and RN Refining & Marketing (RNRM). Through this, the Rosneft group managed 12% of the country’s oil refining capacity.
A new pipeline
In the context of the war in Ukraine, this “large-scale state intervention seems completely logical”, ensures the title of beyond the Rhine. It should indeed allow Germany to place its oil orders elsewhere than in Russia, contrary to what Rosneft has been doing so far.
The supply of the strategic Schwedt refinery, which serves Berlin and its surroundings, for example, will no longer depend on the goodwill of Moscow. An oil pipeline connecting it to the port of Rostock, located along the Baltic Sea, is to be built with this in mind. An agreement has also been reached with Poland to bring oil to Germany through the port of Gdansk and the Polish part of the Druzhba pipeline.
“Major issue”
This episode analyzes theAugsburg General, proves that “energy has become a major issue”, to the point that the German government could even “de facto nationalize” the gas supplier Uniper, weakened by rising prices and the summer shutdown of Russian gas deliveries.
Already a 30% shareholder since July, the State plans to further increase its capital in the company to save it from the financial slump and “avoid disaster” in the energy market.