The German government will extend by six months its employment guarantee to the PCK oil refinery north-east of Berlin amid persistent concerns over the status of the formerly Russian-owned plant, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche told dpa on Monday.
Reiche was visiting the refinery in Schwedt, which is a key provider of motor fuel, jet fuel and heating oil to the Berlin region, on Monday. PCK employs a staff of some 1,200 in the region.
"With the extension of the employment guarantee, we are providing perspectives and security," Reiche said. "We aim to strengthen Schwedt over the longer term, secure industrial value creation and provide fresh perspectives for the region," she added.
"Schwedt stands for industrial strength, security of supply and the cohesion of an entire region," Reiche said. The current geopolitical situation shows the significance of effective industrial sites for Germany, Reiche said.
Germany's federal government and the state government of Brandenburg, where Schwedt lies, were backing the site, she said.
Germany seized control of the subsidiaries of Russia's Rosneft Deutschland, including PCK, in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.