sanctions
Woidke demands billions in aid from the federal government in the event of an oil embargo
Dietmar Woidke (SPD), Prime Minister of Brandenburg, at a press conference after a meeting with the staff of the PCK refinery. Photo: Monika Skolimowska/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Talks about a ban on imports of Russian oil are in full swing. Brandenburg’s prime minister is now demanding financial aid for his state when the embargo comes into force.
Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) is pushing for billions in aid from the federal government in order to control the effects of an oil embargo on the PCK refinery in Schwedt and Brandenburg.
“I expect the need to be around two billion euros,” Woidke told the “Tagesspiegel”. He will also claim this sum from the federal government. Woidke criticized Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), who did not rule out regional fuel shortages in East Germany as a result of an oil supply stop from Russia. Germany needs a secure supply everywhere.
Woidke warned of the consequences of a fuel shortage for the economy, for the population and for commuter traffic in the capital region. A collapse must be ruled out.
Talks are underway in the EU about a ban on imports of Russian oil in six months. The PCK refinery in Schwedt/Oder, Brandenburg, has so far primarily processed Russian oil from the “Druschba” (Friendship) pipeline from Russia, which ends there. It is majority owned by Rosneft Germany, a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned company Rosneft, whose supervisory board is former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD). Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) is looking for alternative oil sources for Schwedt via Rostock, possibly also via Gdansk, because of the embargo.