Last week, the German economy ministry said Rosneft was aiming to conclude the sale process by September, when Berlin's next trusteeship period over the assets expires.
Berlin took control of Rosneft's German assets in September 2022 in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including a 54.17% stake in the PCK Schwedt refinery, which supplies Berlin and is co-owned by Shell (SHEL.L), opens new tab and Eni (ENI.MI), opens new tab.
The trusteeship also covers Rosneft's stakes in the MiRo refinery in Karlsruhe and the Bayernoil refinery in Vohburg.
The German government has extended the trusteeship -- which stripped Rosneft of control, but not ownership of the assets -- twice after winning a lawsuit in which the Russian firm challenged the measure.
Germany's economy ministry said in a statement Rosneft's German business was one of Germany's largest oil processing companies, covering around 12% of the country's capacity.
The latest extension comes after Berlin last month signalled that it was considering expropriating the assets. It said that if Russia regained control over the refineries their operations would be jeopardised because their contractual partners would refuse to cooperate.
"The German government has decided to extend the trusteeship once again after the Russian owners declared their intention to sell their shares ... during the extended term," the ministry said, adding this would be the most legally secure and quickest way to secure the sites.
Law firm Malmendier Legal, which represents Rosneft in Germany, said the trusteeship extension was expected.
"This means that the politically and legally questionable expropriation plans of the Federal Minister of Economics, which are also controversial within the German government, are no longer being pursued," it told Reuters.
