Oil deliveries from Russia to the Czech Republic via the Druzhba pipeline were halted on Wednesday, officials confirmed. The cause of the disruption remains unknown.
Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukas Vlcek reassured the public that refiners are well-prepared for such scenarios. “We have a robust system of state reserves,” Vlcek stated. Mero, the state operator of the pipeline, emphasized that national oil supplies are secure, with reserves covering 90 days. The Transalpine (TAL) and IKL pipelines, which deliver oil from Trieste, continue to operate without issues. Orlen Unipetrol, a major Czech refiner, reported no impact on its operations.
End of EU Exemption Marks Shift Away from Russian Oil
The interruption comes a day before the Czech Republic’s EU exemption for Russian pipeline oil imports expires. The exemption, granted in 2022 to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, allowed time to transition from heavy reliance on Russian oil.
Prague has since invested heavily in expanding the capacity of its Transalpine pipeline to eight million metric tonnes annually, reducing its dependence on Russian energy. The Czech government has no plans to seek an extension of the exemption, signaling its commitment to energy diversification.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala reiterated the country’s support for Ukraine, stating earlier this year that European peace relies on stopping Russian aggression.