Czech Republic receives no Russian oil for first time as TAL pipeline expansion is completed

For the first time in its history, the Czech Republic is receiving no Russian oil, as the expansion of the western TAL pipeline has been completed. After more than 60 years, the country is independent of the Druzhba pipeline. The first increased deliveries of non-Russian crude arrived from the storage terminal in Trieste at the Central Oil Tank Farm in Nelahozeves, from where they will head to the Litvínov refinery. Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (both ODS) and MERO ČR chief executive Jaroslav Pantůček told reporters this today at the Central Oil Tank Farm in Nelahozeves. No oil has flowed to the Czech Republic through the Druzhba pipeline for several weeks.

The Czech Republic can now receive up to eight million tonnes of oil annually through western pipelines, fully covering the consumption of Czech refineries. „We have completed another step on the path towards our energy independence,“ the prime minister said. He added that this strengthens energy security, as the previous dependence on Russian supplies had made the Czech Republic vulnerable.

According to Pantůček, the Czech Republic is using the increased capacity of the TAL pipeline in commercial operation for the first time. „The first increased deliveries of non-Russian oil arrived from the Italian port of Trieste at the Central Oil Tank Farm in Nelahozeves on Wednesday. This afternoon, MERO ČR will begin transporting the oil to its owner, Orlen Unipetrol, at its refinery in Litvínov,“ the MERO ČR chief executive said. The refinery is prepared for the change in oil supplies. In recent years, supplies comprised approximately 50 percent Russian oil and 50 percent non-Russian oil.

The Czech government decided in November 2022 to implement the TAL-PLUS project, which secured increased transport capacity for the European TAL pipeline. This was a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Technical work began in May 2024. Stanjura today confirmed an earlier statement that the cost of complete independence from Russian crude would not exceed CZK 1.6 billion and would be paid by MERO ČR from its revenues. „We originally expected the entire process to begin on 1 July, but because the work was accelerated and all tests went extremely well, we are able to implement it in April,“ Stanjura added.

According to Pantůček, the use of the Druzhba pipeline will form part of another strategic project, but its final form has not yet been decided. MERO will therefore release information once a specific plan has been approved.

The Transalpine TAL pipeline has existed since 1967 and will now reach the maximum throughput for which it was designed for the first time. It starts in Trieste, Italy, and continues through Austria to Germany. The Druzhba pipeline began operating in what was then Czechoslovakia in 1962. Last year, it supplied 2.7 million tonnes of oil to the Czech Republic, representing 42 percent of the total volume.