Fiala: Czech Republic did not oppose extending exemption from Russian oil product import ban

Slovakia and Poland requested an extension of the exemption from the European ban on imports of Russian oil products, and the Czech Republic did not oppose the request; it is for six months. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) said this after today’s meeting of senior constitutional officials. EU member state representatives agreed on Wednesday on the 15th package of sanctions against Russia, which also includes an extension of the exemption.

Fiala said it was important that negotiations and a decision on investment had made it possible to expand the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL). „It will operate at full capacity from next year and allow us to completely end our dependence on Russian oil,“ he noted.

The exemption expired on 5 December, and at the end of November the Czech Ministry of Industry said that „the Czech Republic sees no reason why the exemption should be extended“. The exemption was therefore not included in the original proposal at all, but Slovakia secured its extension by six months, the Economy Ministry in Bratislava said.

For two days last week, no oil flowed from Russia to the Czech Republic through the Druzhba pipeline; supplies resumed on Friday morning. The authorities did not disclose the reason. During that time, the Czech Republic drew oil only via the western route.

So far, oil has flowed into the Czech Republic from two main sources. One is the Druzhba pipeline, which accounted for 58 percent of supplies last year. The rest of the oil arrives via the German IKL pipeline, which connects to the Italian TAL pipeline.

The state plans to increase supplies from the TAL pipeline in the future. State-owned pipeline operator Mero began work on expanding it last year. The project, costing approximately 1.6 billion crowns, is expected to increase capacity for the Czech Republic by four million tonnes of oil per year from next year, making it possible to deliver up to eight million tonnes a year to the country through the pipeline. Under the state’s current plans, the Czech Republic could therefore completely wean itself off Russian oil. Physical work is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Testing and finishing work will follow, with Mero expecting full supplies from the expanded pipeline by the middle of next year.

The package includes further restrictions on individuals and companies involved in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The measures are expected to target the so-called shadow fleet of foreign vessels transporting Russian oil products. Member states still need to formally approve the new sanctions, which are expected to happen on Monday on the sidelines of a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers. Fiala said it was important that the EU could agree on such steps.