The Czech Republic has enhanced its energy security by eliminating reliance on oil deliveries from Russia. Previously, the country sourced about half of its oil—approximately 4 million metric tons—through the Druzhba pipeline from Russia. The Czech government announced today that the country doesn’t need oil imports from Russia anymore. Earlier this year, the Czech Republic also ceased importing Russian gas.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated that imports from Russia are no longer necessary because the country can now obtain all its oil supplies from Western sources. The Czech Republic has invested over 1.5 billion Czech koruna (crowns) to double the capacity of the Italian TAL pipeline to 8 million metric tons per year. A branch of this pipeline, which continues as IKL through Germany, serves the Czech Republic. The amount of oil imported through this route will fully meet the country’s needs.
“Russia can no longer blackmail us by stopping oil supplies. The construction of the TAL pipeline extension is complete! After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which started an energy crisis across Europe, we managed to change the energy map of the Czech Republic within two years, get rid of our dependence on Russian gas, and now we are getting rid of our dependence on Russian oil. Our government initiated the expansion of the TAL pipeline, and we have now completed its construction. The pipeline will be fully operational starting in the summer,” Prime Minister Fiala said at a press conference.
The Czech Prime Minister highlighted that this means price stability, energy security and independence for the citizens.
“Less risk of sudden fluctuations in the prices of gasoline, diesel and other products,” specified PM. “Russia can no longer blackmail the Czech Republic by stopping oil supplies,” PM Fiala added.
Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura confirmed that the Orlen Unipetrol refinery does not plan to import any Russian oil starting in the second half of the year.
“This year, the Czech Republic will definitively eliminate another legacy of the previous government – existential dependence on Russian oil! Thanks to the completion of the TAL-PLUS project, we are ready to supply this raw material fully via the western route via the TAL and IKL oil pipelines. This will give us up to double the oil pipeline capacity compared to the past, which will fully cover the needs of the Czech Republic. The costs of complete independence from Russian oil will not exceed 1.6 billion and will be covered by MERO ČR from its revenues. They will, therefore, not directly impact the state budget,” Minister Stanjura posted on X.
The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary are the only remaining European Union member states still dependent on Russian oil. The other 24 EU countries have stopped purchasing Russian oil as part of sanctions following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
