Havlíček: Czech Republic ready to invest in securing oil supplies to Slovakia

The Czech Republic is ready to launch investments that would secure oil supplies to Slovakia. Investments to establish a full-fledged reverse flow could cost up to one billion crowns. Within two to three years, two to three million tonnes of oil could be transported. Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček (ANO) said this after today’s meeting with Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková in Prague. In the presence of representatives of companies such as Čepro and Transpetrol, they discussed the terms, timetable and next steps.

According to Havlíček, the investments can be divided into two phases. “The first is the full-fledged investment, which could amount to up to one billion crowns. It is an investment in the Druzhba pipeline, in other words, to enable a full-fledged reverse flow to Slovakia. Ultimately, this would mean that within two to three years, two to three million tonnes of oil could be sent to Slovakia,” Havlíček said. The final terms would then be a matter of commercial negotiations.

In emergency mode, it would be possible to send tens of thousands of tonnes of oil per month to Slovakia, according to the minister. On an annual basis, this would mean hundreds of thousands of tonnes of oil. “Of course, we favour preparing this properly. So that it is not a provisional arrangement, but so that we have the two or three years we will need for it and so that it is fully prepared,” Havlíček added.

At the press conference, the Slovak minister welcomed the Czech offer to enable a reverse oil flow for Slovakia. She also said that a working group had been established, comprising representatives of Slovak oil transporter Transpetrol and Czech state pipeline operator Mero, which will test the flow. Havlíček subsequently added that the working group has until the end of April to present a detailed plan.

According to Havlíček, the Czech Republic is also ready to take part in an expert team capable of determining the actual condition of the Druzhba pipeline. Havlíček said in Brussels on Tuesday that the Czech Republic was ready to lead a mission to assess the condition of the pipeline damaged in Ukraine. According to him, European partners responded positively to the Czech proposal.

Russian oil has not flowed through the pipeline to Slovakia and Hungary since 27 January, when, according to Kyiv, it was damaged in a Russian attack. On Tuesday, Ukraine accepted an offer from the European Union of assistance and funding to restore supplies through the Druzhba pipeline to the two countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said repairs to the pipeline are nearing completion. According to him, the compressor station will begin operating in one to one-and-a-half months.

Saková and Havlíček also discussed the situation of the Adria pipeline between Hungary and Croatia. Negotiations there are also complicated, according to Havlíček, but the Czech Republic could act as a mediator, the minister said.

According to Havlíček, the planned processes could strengthen energy security in Central Europe. They could represent a key step for Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Hungary could also benefit.