The PCK refinery, which is important for northeast Germany, is majority owned by the Russian state-owned company Rosneft. However, the shares are currently under federal control. Should they be nationalized?
The Left supports considerations of nationalizing the majority shares of the Russian state-owned company Rosneft in the Brandenburg refinery PCK in Schwedt. “The proposed state takeover of Rosneft’s shares in PCK GmbH by the federal government is absolutely right, logical and long overdue,” said the left-wing member of the Bundestag Christian Görke to the German Press Agency.
Rosneft’s shares of around 54 percent are currently under federal state control – in a so-called trust administration. The aim was to keep the plant, which had been running on Russian oil for decades and was very important for the northeast, running after the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU oil embargo. The trust administration currently expires on March 10th, but could be extended.
The “Business Insider” reported that the Federal Ministry of Economics is about to make the decision to expropriate Rosneft of its PCK shares. The decision must be made by the beginning of March at the latest. Expropriation would be possible under the Energy Industry Act. The Ministry of Economic Affairs did not comment on the report upon request.
Görke said: “The Left has long been calling for complete state takeover to ensure security of supply in East Germany, as well as to transform the PCK into a green refinery and thus secure the 4,000 jobs in northeast Brandenburg in the long term.” From his point of view, it is important not to resell the Rosneft shares, but rather to keep them owned by the federal government in the long term. The left-wing politician suggested that they should be merged with Uniper and Sefe to form a state energy supplier.
Source: Stern
