The first reports about the leak were reported by the local newspaper “Maerkische Oderzeitung”. According to her description, from a damaged installation oil gushes out to a height of several meters, which indicates the serious scale of the failure.
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At the same time, the daily emphasized that the situation was likely will not be able to be controlled before the morning hours, which raises concerns about the extent of environmental contamination in the area. The failure occurred in Gramzow, 20 km from the Polish border.
Gramzow, Germany
Unknown causes of the failure in Germany and the announcement of an on-site inspection
It has not yet been determined what led to the damage to the pipeline. The state authorities declare that their priority is to control the situation and protect the surrounding areas from pollution. The Minister of the Environment of Brandenburg, Hanka Mittelstaedt, announced that will go to the site on Thursday to make a first assessment of the damage and discuss further actions with experts and technical services.
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The failure raises additional concerns due to the nature of the pipeline. This is the main line carrying crude oil from the port of Rostock on the Baltic Sea to the PCK Schwedt refinery, located close to the border with Poland. This section is crucial both for the operation of the plant and the fuel security of the entire region.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
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A pipeline of strategic importance for Berlin and Brandenburg
The PCK Schwedt refinery remains one of the most important infrastructure facilities in eastern Germany. That's what she's in charge of a significant part of fuel supplies for Berlin and Brandenburg. Any interruption in its supply could affect the availability of fuels in the region, which is why continuity of oil supplies is a priority there.
Schwedt is located on the Oder, in the immediate vicinity of the Polish border, which means that the effects of serious accidents – such as the current leak – are also closely watched by the Polish side. Although the pipeline has not been stopped and production at the refinery continues, the services are still working to contain the leak. The final extent of the damage will only be known after a full inspection and rescue operations have been completed.
