Czechia weans total reliance on Russian fossil fuels for the first time

The Czech Republic has achieved full independence from Russian oil for the first time in its history, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced – marking a watershed moment in the nation’s energy and security policy. 

After more than 60 years reliance on the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, the country has officially halted all oil imports from Russia, according to ČTK reporting.

A crucial enabler of this transition was the expansion of the western TAL pipeline. This decisive break is more than logistical – it’s symbolic of a broader strategic shift toward energy sovereignty and distancing away from Kremlin influence. 

“For the first time in history, Russian oil will no longer flow to the Czech Republic,” the statement reads.

The first shipments of non-Russian oil have already arrived at the Czech Republic’s central oil depot. It came from the Italian port of Trieste and was sent to a storage facility in Nelahozeves and is now being transported to the refinery in Litvínov.

“We’ve taken another important step toward our energy independence,” Fiala said.

The country now has the capacity to receive up to 8 million tons of oil yearly through western pipelines, enough to meet the needs of all Czech refineries.

Back in January, the Czech prime minister said that the country was prepared to fully rely on the TAL and IKL routes for oil supplies in case of disruptions from the Druzhba pipeline.

The expansion of the infrastructure, known as the TAL-PLUS project, was approved by the government in November 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

Construction began in May 2023.