Germany's Capital, Eastern Regions Face Gasoline Shortages, High Fuel Prices

Umer Jamshaid Published January 12, 2023 | 09:12 PM

Germany's capital Berlin and eastern regions are facing gasoline shortages and high fuel prices, as Russian oil has no longer been flowing to Europe since Jan. 1

ISTANBUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jan, 2023 ):Germany's capital Berlin and eastern regions are facing gasoline shortages and high fuel prices, as Russian oil has no longer been flowing to Europe since Jan. 1.

The PCK refinery in Schwedt, in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, which was previously supplied exclusively with Russian pipeline oil, is only running at around 50% capacity due to the drop in supply, according to the Business Insider website.

The reduced production is starting to show effects. This is already reflected in the markups on the national average of the gasoline price of the Seefeld gasoline depot, which is located northeast of Berlin.

This had already risen in the first two days of January compared to the previous week from �1.76 ($1.89) per 100 liters to �4.40 per 100 liters.In addition, price information service Argus Media reported that there is already a production shortage of gasoline in the region.

'PCK shareholders have been withholding gasoline since January 2,' according to Argus Media.At the oil company that operates PCK, many employees are even currently working short hours, according to Business Insider.

Larger alternative oil supplies from Poland and Kazakhstan, as announced by the German government, have yet to arrive, the news site adds. Relations between Germany and Russia are strained over the war in Ukraine. Berlin accuses Moscow of war crimes, suspends bilateral cooperation and imposes harsh economic sanctions.

Before the war began in February, Russia supplied nearly 55% of Germany's natural gas and 35% of its oil. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition had decided to completely stop Russian oil imports by the end of 2022 and reduce gas imports to a minimum while reaching agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to import liquefied natural gas.