PCK Refinery: How Many Rail Tankers Would Replace the Druzhba Pipeline?
With Russia set to halt crude oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline to Germany starting May 1, 2026, the PCK refinery in Schwedt faces a critical supply challenge. The facility, which processes over two million tonnes of Kazakh oil annually, must now seek alternatives to maintain operations supplying fuel to Berlin, Brandenburg, and beyond.
According to verified reports, the PCK refinery in Schwedt processed approximately 2.2 million tonnes of crude oil from Kazakhstan in 2024 via the Druzhba pipeline system. This volume represents the primary feedstock for producing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and bitumen essential for regional transportation and infrastructure.
To replace this pipeline capacity with rail transport, industry calculations show that moving 2.2 million tonnes of crude oil would require approximately 110,000 standard rail tankers annually. Each tanker car typically carries 20 tonnes of crude oil, based on standard European rail freight specifications for hazardous materials transport.
This translates to roughly 300 rail tankers per day operating continuously to maintain the refinery’s current throughput. Such a shift would place significant strain on existing rail infrastructure, particularly given the concurrent demands for transporting other goods and the logistical complexities of coordinating such high-volume rail movements across international borders.
The Schwedt refinery’s strategic importance cannot be overstated, as it supplies approximately 90% of vehicles in Berlin and Brandenburg with fuel, while also providing the majority of jet fuel for Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The facility produces bitumen used in road construction throughout eastern Germany, making its continued operation vital for both transportation and infrastructure sectors.
Industry analysts note that while rail transport offers a potential temporary solution, it comes with substantially higher costs and increased safety considerations compared to pipeline transport. The International Energy Agency estimates that rail transport of crude oil costs approximately three to four times more than pipeline transport per tonne-kilometre, primarily due to higher energy consumption, labor costs, and infrastructure wear.
the geographical constraints of routing rail tankers from Kazakh oil fields through multiple international borders to reach Schwedt present additional challenges. The journey would require coordination between Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, and Germany, with each border crossing adding potential delays and administrative complexity.
As the May 1 deadline approaches, Rosneft Deutschland—the majority shareholder of the PCK refinery—continues to explore alternative supply options. These include potential increases in North Sea oil deliveries via existing maritime routes and investigations into whether other pipeline systems could be adapted to supplement the shortfall, though no comprehensive alternative has yet been identified that could fully replace the Druzhba pipeline’s capacity.
The situation underscores the vulnerability of regional energy infrastructure to geopolitical developments and highlights the ongoing debate about energy security diversification in Europe. While the refinery has confirmed it will not face an immediate supply shortage due to existing stockpiles and alternative sourcing efforts, the transition to alternative transport methods presents significant operational and financial challenges that will likely impact regional fuel prices and availability in the coming months.
The PCK refinery’s ability to adapt to these changing supply dynamics will be closely monitored by industry observers, policymakers, and consumers throughout eastern Germany as the situation develops beyond the initial May 1 shutdown date.
Stay informed about developments in regional energy supply and their impact on transportation and infrastructure by following updates from official energy authorities and industry analysts.
