Brandenburg’s Premier Demands Clarity on PCK Oil Refinery Ownership
Brandenburg’s Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) has called for a swift resolution to the ownership structure of the PCK oil refinery in Schwedt. At a meeting of the task force at the state chancellery in Potsdam, he stated that the unresolved ownership situation, currently managed by the federal government, remained a critical impediment to the PCK’s further development.
Ownership Saga Continues
The PCK refinery, with approximately 1,200 employees, is majority-owned by Russian state-owned company Rosneft, although the federal government currently holds the controlling stake through a trust administration. Rosneft is expected to withdraw completely from the refinery in northeastern Brandenburg and sell its shares.
However, the specific path forward remains unclear. Energy giant Shell also intends to divest its stake, but a previously agreed sale recently fell through.
"With regard to Rosneft Deutschland, I expect a swift sale by the Russian owners," said Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Employment and Future Outlook
"Layoffs at PCK have not been necessary to date, and I hope it stays that way," remarked Woidke. At the end of 2024, the federal government extended employment protection for PCK until the end of June.
Woidke emphasized that PCK must remain a top priority for any new federal government after the election on February 23.
PCK CEO Ralf Schairer acknowledged the increasingly challenging market conditions in Germany and intense international competition.
Christian Görke, a Bundestag member from The Left, criticized the lack of progress on the ownership issue and reiterated his demand for state involvement. "PCK urgently needs a roadmap for future investments," he said.
Strategic Importance and Transition
The refinery supplies large parts of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and western Poland with fuel, heating oil, kerosene, and other products. Since Germany’s shift away from Russian oil in 2023, the facility has transitioned to alternative sources. Crude oil is now sourced via a pipeline from the port of Rostock and from Kazakhstan.
According to the company, current capacity utilization stands at nearly 80% (68.5% in 2023). Approximately 17% of the processed crude oil originates from Kazakhstan.
