Czechia is using more Russian oil; its share has risen to 65 percent this year

Czechia is using more and more Russian oil. In the first half of this year, oil imported via the Russian Druzhba pipeline accounted for around 65 percent of the total. Last year, the share was around 56 percent, and it was lower still in previous years. Mero spokesperson Barbora Putzová said today in response to a question from the Czech News Agency (ČTK). The share of Russian oil is therefore at its highest level since at least 2012. The EU has banned imports of Russian oil since last year, but Czechia has an exemption for use of the Druzhba pipeline. Mero owns and operates the Czech sections of the Druzhba and IKL pipelines and is the sole transporter of oil to the Czech Republic.

The share of Russian oil in total imports has also been rising in recent months. Czechia is apparently not alone in Europe: analysts warned over the summer that EU refineries were seeking to secure more oil amid concerns about disruptions to crude transit through Ukraine.