Germany takes control of Russian-owned refinery amid Europe's energy crisis

[mucifer]

Source: Reuters

BERLIN, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Germany took control of a major Russian-owned oil refinery on Friday in the latest move to shore up vital energy supplies that have been jeopardised by Russia's war in Ukraine.

The economy ministry said it was putting a unit of Russian oil firm Rosneft (ROSN.MM) under the trusteeship of the industry regulator, and taking over the business's Schwedt refinery, which supplies 90% of Berlin's fuel.

"With the trusteeship, the threat to the security of energy supply is countered and an essential foundation stone is set for the preservation and future of the Schwedt site," the ministry said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germany-puts-rosneft-deutschland-under-trusteeship-2022-09-16/

---

Wow

[Irish_Dem]

1. Time to nationalize all Russian assets.

Especially all RU energy companies.

[OnDoutside]

4. Agreed. It's going to be a tough 4 to 5 months for us in Europe, so

I have little pity for Russian Oligarchs and their cash cow.

Interesting that dependence on Russian gas in the EU has dropped from 40% to 9%, but I suspect that things could revert once the Russians get out of Ukraine and a period of time has elapsed, so at least not before next summer.

[Irish_Dem]

8. How will it affect you personally in terms of cost this winter?

I am hoping that perhaps Europe has learned a lesson about depending upon Russia for anything.

To get their way, Russia will bully and torment others.
And when they hold all the cards that can be brutal.

I hope that Europe tries to go green and or find other sources of energy.

France is building a pipeline in Spain I think.

[OnDoutside]

9. We use gas for our heating so it's definitely going to hit us, but hopefully nowhere near as bad as

the UK are going to be hit.

I have 11 solar panels so that will help the Electricity cost, and as regards Gas, we recently installed a high efficiency Gas boiler, so that will also help, as well as working on airtightness as best we could. I'm hoping that we won't have to turn on our heating until late October (or at least just an hour a night until then), but I expect we will be wearing warmer clothes !

I too have been saying for years that dependency on Russian oil/gas was a massive mistake but clearly Putin had bought off the right people. I have no doubt that we will see agitators over the winter months, putting pressure on EU governments to cave, but I'm hoping that the Biden Administration can continue to block any such attempts. We will never get a better opportunity to weaken Russia than we do now.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Yes I agree completely.

Yes certain European countries like Germany and France were all about the money
and kept making excuses for Putin.

But now they see the utter devastation and brutality coming from him.
And he is essentially blackmailing Europe, give me my way, let me flatten Ukraine or
I will take away your heat this winter.

Putin will no doubt fund agitators to stir up trouble this winter.
I hope Europe can hold tight against Putin.

I think Biden is resolved to see the Ukraine situation resolved satisfactorily.
Ukraine is fighting for all western democracies. And Ukraine is doing us a favor by
destroying Putin and the Russian army.

Sounds like you are doing a smart job in terms of energy conservation.
Yes time for warmer clothes in the winter, we need to start taking a hard
look at our energy habits.

[OnDoutside]

15. Judging by the way the EU are wimping out against Hungary and Poland, I wouldn't hold my

breath. Ukraine may well be our saviour !

It's funny that Putin indirectly may be responsible for most of the developed world finally getting serious about renewable energy, well him and Joe Biden (whose signing of the IRA will not just give the huge push to renewables in the US, but i guarantee it will have a domino effect on every other country to compete).

We gutted this house 20 years ago, and repented later about all the things we should have done. We re-did it last year, and got a high efficiency boiler, even more insulation (spray foam in the attic and under the suspended floor, a mhrv unit, cabled the house for Cat 6 etc. This is the last one I'll be doing !!!

p.s. this is a good twitter guy to follow for what's going on within EU politics etc @rdanielkelemen

[Irish_Dem]

16. I've had the same thoughts.

Putin indirectly is making the western democracies finally do what needs to be done.
And facing some hard realties.

Not just renewable energy, but strengthening and enlarging NATO, and the chance to decimate the Russian military.
Alerting the world to the Russia and China threat.
Facing Putin's meddling in western democracy elections, facing China's threat to Taiwan.

That is just off the top of my head, there are more benefits no doubt.

But the Ukrainians are paying a huge and horrible price for all of it.

Hard to imagine how badly Putin screwed up.
If he had the military he showed us on paper, he could have pulled it off.

Sounds like a big job on your house. You should be snug this winter with all the insulation and mhrv system.
An upgraded cable system, and cost efficient gas heater.

[Igel]

17. They should have denied Nord Stream II when told.

And, when told, ramped down Nord Stream I.

Mostly, they laughed.

Germany had over 4 years' warning. Stingers heading to Ukraine, relying on Russia is wrong--use LNG, the US can provide it. Laughter.

Hard to beat that kind of pro-Russia bias, however short-sighted and in hindsight wrong.

[Irish_Dem]

18. Yes Germany had a smug, amused reaction to concerns.

Money was their focus.

Of course the US has our own walk of shame.

A US president who is a Putin puppet, tried to weaken NATO, attempted to overthrow the US government
and stole classified material and did god knows what with it.

[radicalleft]

2. This is huge...

Like international implications huge!

[onetexan]

13. All the European countries should follow suit

Stand up to the bully by taking his asset away.

[Ford_Prefect]

3. Could start a trend in response to Putin, no?

[FakeNoose]

5. Woo-hoo! Go Germany

This is big. Flipping the bird to Putin...

[niyad]

7. I want!!

[Pachamama]

11. Me too!

[iluvtennis]

6. Awesome news!

[Pachamama]

12. Sehr Gut

Happy to hear that this was done.

[truthisfreedom]

14. Excellent step.

More countries need to do this.

[blue-wave]

19. Excellent move!!

Wonderful for Germany. Now how about moving beyond your internal politics and shipping the weapons you promised Ukraine?