Kazakhstan Finds Alternative to Druzhba for Oil Exports

Kazakh oil will be exported to Germany through the Russian port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region and through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium system, Energy Ministry spokesperson Asel Serikpayeva said, according to Interfax. The rerouting concerns 260,000 tons of crude that had originally been planned for shipment through the Druzhba pipeline, Orda.kz reports.

In connection with the adjustment of the transit schedule under the Druzhba system in the direction of Germany, to the Schwedt refinery, for May 2026, the Energy Ministry reports the planned redistribution of oil export volumes in the amount of 260,000 tons.Serikpayeva said.

According to her, 100,000 tons will be shipped through the port of Ust-Luga, while another 160,000 tons will go through the CPC. She said this scheme has already been agreed with shippers and is operational in nature. The route change will not affect the planned annual production volume of 98 million tons.

At the end of April, disruptions in supplies through the northern branch of the Druzhba pipeline became known. On April 22, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov commented on the situation. According to him, Astana had not received official notification from Moscow at that time, but learned through unofficial channels that the disruptions were linked to strikes on Druzhba infrastructure.

Later, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed the suspension of transit due to “technical issues” and said Kazakhstan’s interests would be protected through alternative routes.

Since 2023, Kazakh oil from the Kashagan, Karachaganak and Tengiz fields has been exported to Germany to the Schwedt refinery, which belonged to Rosneft until 2022 and is now under state management. During this time, supplies increased from 1.2 million tons per year to a planned 2.5 million tons in 2026.

Shipments are made through the northern branch of Druzhba, which passes through Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany. Since 2022, that branch has been used only for Kazakh oil, while the southern branch, which runs through Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, continues to carry oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Those two countries are now the only ones still buying Russian oil.

Original author: Alexey Afonsky

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