The German federal government is attempting to secure an extension of the production licence for the PCK refinery in Schwedt on the Oder through negotiations with the U.S. Treasury Department, according to “Die Welt am Sonntag”. The refinery supplies more than 90 % of the fuel needs for Berlin and Brandenburg. Because it is owned by the Russian state‑controlled company Rosneft, it is subject to U.S. economic sanctions. The operating licence is a temporary “General Licence” issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a division of the Treasury, and is set to expire on 29 April. Without an extension, the refinery would have to cease operations on 1 May. Rosneft Deutschland’s refinery is being managed in trust by the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur).
Rosneft says the looming expiry of the U.S. licence is already disrupting day‑to‑day operations. As reported by “Die Welt am Sonntag”, the PCK management warned the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs in a letter that the situation is “dramatic”.
A spokesperson for the ministry told the newspaper that the federal government is in “very close and constructive contact” with the relevant U.S. authorities regarding sanctions and the potential extension of the applicable OFAC General Licence for German subsidiaries of Rosneft. The spokesperson added that the government still believes the U.S. sanctions do not target these German subsidiaries, which are distinct from the listed Russian parent company.
