BERLIN/SCHWEDT (dpa-AFX) - The Left Party supports the idea of nationalizing the majority shareholding of the Russian state-owned company Rosneft in the Brandenburg refinery PCK in Schwedt. "The proposed state takeover of Rosneft's shares in PCK GmbH by the federal government is absolutely right, logical and overdue," Christian Gorke, member of the Left Party in the Bundestag, told the German Press Agency on Thursday.

The Rosneft shares of around 54 percent are currently under state control of the federal government - in a so-called trust administration. The aim was to keep the plant, which has been operated with Russian oil for decades and is very important for the north-east, running after the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU oil embargo. As things stand, the trusteeship expires on March 10, but could be extended.

The "Business Insider" reported that the Federal Ministry of Economics is about to decide to expropriate Rosneft from its PCK shares. The decision must be made by the beginning of March at the latest. Expropriation would be possible under the Energy Industry Act. The Ministry of Economic Affairs did not comment on the report when asked.

Gorke said: "The Left Party has long been calling for a complete state takeover in order to ensure security of supply in eastern Germany and to transform PCK into a green refinery, thereby securing the 4,000 jobs in north-east Brandenburg in the long term." In his view, it is important not to sell on the Rosneft shares, but to keep them in the long-term ownership of the federal government. They should be merged with Uniper and Sefe to form a state-owned energy supplier, the Left Party politician suggested./yybb/DP/jha