Russia to Halt Transit of Kazakh Oil to Germany via Druzhba Pipeline from May 1

Russia will suspend the transit of Kazakh oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, 2026, according to industry sources. Kazakhstan has reportedly received an official notification from Russia’s pipeline operator Transneft.

The Druzhba route has served as a key alternative export channel for Kazakh oil to Europe, allowing shipments to bypass Russian seaports, which face sanctions pressure and infrastructure risks.

Kazakh oil is transported via the Uzen–Atyrau–Samara pipeline and then through Transneft’s system to the Adamova Zastava delivery point, before being supplied to the Schwedt refinery in Germany. The crude is exported under the KEBCO (Kazakhstan Export Blend Crude Oil) brand, sourced from major fields including Karachaganak, Kashagan, and Tengiz.

Following restrictions on Russian oil supplies to Europe, Kazakhstan has increased exports via this route since 2023. In the first quarter of 2026, shipments to Germany through Druzhba doubled to 730 thousand tons.

Kazakhstan had planned to increase oil exports to Germany to 2.5 million tons in 2026, up from 2.146 million tons in 2025. The suspension of transit may impact these plans and highlights the need to further diversify export routes.

The development underscores ongoing risks related to reliance on transit infrastructure and reinforces the strategic importance of export diversification for Kazakhstan’s oil sector.

Source: Reuters, Kursiv.media.