Why Russian oil is so sticky for Germany
The pipeline that carries Russian oil to Germany is called Friendship, or Druzhba in Russian. But Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine has destroyed any lingering feelings of affection.
Since the invasion the German government has dramatically reduced its dependence on Russian oil from 35% to 12%, all of which comes to the refinery in Schwedt. She fears closing the site could destroy the local economy, although at the same time she says the town stands behind Ukraine and understands the urgency of moving away from Russian energy.After the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the sudden withdrawal of East German state support for local industries, this region went into decline and during the 1990s struggled with unemployment and depopulation. Thanks to the refinery it has managed to get back on its feet.
Mayor Hoppe says closing the refinery would prompt a collapse in fuel supplies in this region and parts of Poland, impacting drivers, emergency services and even Berlin airport. The German government hopes to find other sources of oil for the Schwedt refinery but there is one problem: it is majority-owned by Russian state oil company Rosneft. That's why this is the only site in Germany still dependent on Russian oil.
He grew up in former Yugoslavia and has his own painful experience of conflict. Like most people in Schwedt he fully supports Ukraine and helps Ukrainian refugees coming over the border, he says.
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