MOSCOW, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Russia's oil pipeline monopoly Transneft said on Tuesday that Kazakh oil would not be able to replace Russian oil for refineries in Germany, the TASS news agency quoted it as saying.

Oil supplies to Germany from Kazakhstan could "technically" amount to 3-5 million tonnes per year, TASS reported citing Transneft.

Germany's economy ministry said on Monday it was optimistic that Kazakh oil can help supplement replacement crude oil shipments for the eastern German refinery at Schwedt that will no longer import Russian oil under European Union sanctions. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; writing by Polina Devitt; Editing by Louise Heavens)