Fiala: Czechia will soon completely end its dependence on Russian energy commodities

Czechia will soon completely end its dependence on Russian energy commodities, Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) said at the Efficient Energy conference today. In the case of gas supplies, the process is almost complete, he said; after the expansion of the TAL pipeline next year, he also expects this to be the case for Russian oil supplies, alongside the gradual replacement of Russian nuclear fuel.

According to Fiala, dependence on Russian commodities in Czechia had long been underestimated, as became clear especially after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, the prime minister said, the reduction of supplies from Russia is progressing very quickly.

„In the case of gas, it is virtually done,“ Fiala said.

In this context, he recalled the secured capacity at the terminal in Eemshaven and, in the future, capacity at another terminal in Stade, Germany, as well as the purchase of gas transmission system operator Net4Gas and gas storage facilities. „We have secured sufficient gas supplies and control over gas infrastructure,“ the prime minister said. Gas will play a key role in the domestic energy sector in the coming years, he added.

According to Fiala, the state is working to limit supplies of other commodities from Russia. He noted that work to expand the Italian TAL oil pipeline is expected to be completed next year. Russian fuel is also gradually being replaced at Czech nuclear power plants with new supplies from the United States and France.

Russian gas previously accounted for almost 97 percent of supplies to Czechia. The state began reducing them after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, and for most of last year it did not draw any gas from Russia. However, Russian gas began flowing into the country again via Slovakia in October. According to statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO), Russian gas accounted for 3.8 percent of domestic supplies from January through the end of November. The share of Russian oil supplies remains significantly higher. According to statistics for the first half of last year, oil imported via the Russian Druzhba pipeline accounted for around 65 percent.