A new pipeline system for transporting fuel from Germany to Poland and the Czech Republic is being planned by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The project, which is expected to cost around 21 billion euros, aims to ensure a quick supply of kerosene for fighter jets in the event of a potential war against Russia. According to a report by the German news magazine Der Spiegel, the pipeline system is intended to be a vital component of NATO’s fuel supply.
The existing pipeline system from the Cold War era ends in northern Germany and southern Bavaria, but a potential conflict at the eastern border of Germany would pose a problem for the military in terms of fuel supply. An internal memo from the German military, cited by the Spiegel, states that there are “substantial problems in the sustainable fuel supply of the forces that would need to be relocated to the eastern border in the event of a crisis.”
A presentation for the leadership of the German Ministry of Defence states that the pipeline system is “the backbone of NATO’s fuel supply.” The German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, has also commented on the project, stating that the country will contribute more than 3.5 billion euros to the construction costs. Pistorius emphasized the importance of reliable fuel supply for the readiness of German soldiers, saying, “For our soldiers, reliable fuel supply is one of the essential prerequisites for their readiness.”
The project is expected to take around 20 to 25 years to complete, with the majority of the pipeline being built by 2035. The planned route of the pipeline, which will pass through water and nature protection areas and under several rivers, has been outlined in the project’s planning documents. The project may also require the expropriation of adjacent landowners’ properties.