Germany in constructive talks with U.S. on PCK refinery, official says

BERLIN, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Germany is in close and constructive dialogue with U.S. authorities on an extension of a license for Rosneft's ROSN.MM German subsidiary, which controls the PCK refinery, a German economy ministry official said on Tuesday.

"We are in very close and constructive dialogue with the relevant U.S. authorities regarding an extension of the relevant OFAC General License for Rosneft Deutschland," junior economy minister Frank Wetzel was quoted in a statement.

In a January letter seen by Reuters, PCK's management made an urgent appeal to Wetzel's ministry to resolve a standoff with the U.S. over the refinery's future, as U.S. sanctions are hurting its business and threatening fuel supply for the country's capital and the region.

Tuesday's statement came after officials from Germany's government, from the local state of Brandenburg and refinery management met to discuss possible solutions.

The discussions are unfolding against the backdrop of pressure from Washington, with sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's two largest oil firms, squeezing a vital German energy artery supplied by Kazakhstan.