Russia battles Germany over seized refineries

Admin l Wednesday, January 25, 2023

 

BERLIN – Russian energy company Rosneft’s case against having two of its German subsidiaries taken into temporary administration comes up for hearing February 22.

Further dates could be arranged in March, the court said. No date for a ruling has yet been set.

The German government ordered the two subsidiaries to be taken under state control for six months in September last year, citing concerns on energy supply security.

The two companies together hold a majority stake in the PCK oil refinery in the eastern state of Brandenburg. One of Germany’s largest refineries has for decades been supplied with Russia crude oil through the Druzhba (Friendship) Pipeline.

A total block on the import of Russian oil, imposed in response to the invasion of Ukraine, went into effect on January 1.

Rosneft has accused Germany of “forcible expropriation” of its subsidiaries. It alleges that the legal basis for placing them under administration was lacking, according to court documents.

Both companies continued to fulfil their obligations and also did not refuse to receive oil sourced from outside Russia, the Russian state-controlled energy company said.