Okamura: Czechia should again seek sources in Russia over energy prices

The solution to high energy and fuel prices would be to buy gas and oil from Russia. Czechia should therefore diversify its sources again and ensure its energy security. Tomio Okamura (SPD), Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, said this today on Nova TV's Za pět minut dvanáct programme. Czechia shed its dependence on imports from Russia during the previous electoral term following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"In my view, diversification should now also proceed back in the opposite direction. Incidentally, the Austrian government said last year that it would willingly take energy from Russia if it were the cheapest. And they said this after the end of the conflict (Russia's invasion of Ukraine). That means we should seek to safeguard our energy security through multiple sources," Okamura said.

He added that the most important thing for him was for Czech citizens and companies to have the cheapest possible energy.

According to Okamura, the current US actions in Iran are increasing the risk of an energy crisis. Opposition MP and former deputy speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Věra Kovářová (STAN) welcomed the fact that the leader of the coalition SPD movement acknowledges that the significant rise in prices is a consequence of the war. "You did not do that four years ago (after Russia's invasion of Ukraine), and you really denied it," Kovářová said.

Okamura argues that Russian energy is still being supplied to Europe anyway. "If you are looking east and would like oil from Russia, I would just remind you of 2019, when contaminated oil came to us from Russia. Russian oil cannot be relied on; it is an unreliable partner. It is a partner that can blackmail us, as is evident in the cases of both Slovakia and Hungary," the STAN MP said.

Russian oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary were interrupted after January attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. At the end of March, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said following a joint meeting of the Czech and Slovak governments that reopening the Druzhba oil pipeline would help stabilise the oil situation in Central Europe. Slovakia introduced dual fuel prices for residents and foreigners.

The government of ANO, SPD and Motorists has moved to limit retailers' margins in response to high prices. It reduced the excise duty on diesel and capped prices, announcing the maximum possible amounts per litre of petrol and diesel every day.