NATO will expand the fuel pipeline system from western Germany to Poland and the Czech Republic, Der Spiegel on February 21 quoted an internal memorandum of understanding from the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces.
The move comes as NATO plans a combat plan in response to the possibility of an attack on NATO's eastern border countries.
The NATO Central Europe pipeline system was built in the late 1950s and was designed "to meet the needs of operations in Central Europe during peacetime, crisis and conflict".
This pipeline carries large volumes of kerosene, gasoline and diesel through Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The pipeline is also used by the US.
According to the document obtained by Der Spiegel, NATO's plan is to "reserve fuel as far as possible to the east, near potential active areas". Currently, fuel distribution is limited to the eastern flank of NATO, with the current pipeline network ending in western Germany.
The NATO pipeline expansion project is estimated to cost 21 billion euros ($22 billion) and is expected to be basically completed by 2035.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told Der Spiegel that Germany is ready to contribute more than 3.5 billion euros ($3.7 billion) to the project. "For our soldiers, a reliable supply of fuel is one of the essential requirements for readiness to operate," he added.
A senior NATO official said that while ammunition and other equipment can be transported by air, transporting fuel by plane is not feasible due to high consumption.
A NATO official told Der Spiegel that there were "significant problems in providing sustainable fuel to forces that would have to move to the eastern border if necessary. The demand is huge".
However, Der Spiegel added that some factors could slow down the progress of the pipeline and increase costs. The pipeline is under several rivers, including the Weser and Elbe, so protective measures are needed to prevent accidents.
The German newspaper also noted that the NATO pipeline expansion is likely to need to address land issues with authorities and landowners.
