The Czech Republic has declared complete independence from oil supplies from Russia.

This happened after the completion of the modernization of the TAL oil pipeline capacities, through whichOil comes from the Italian port of Trieste. In 2024 , RUSSIA was the largest supplier of oil to the Czech Republic, accounting for 42%.

The Czech Republic has completely switched to non-Russian oil supplies, starting to receive expanded shipments of crude via the modernized TAL trans-Alpine pipeline, which connects Italy and Central European countries. 

The country's Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated that the Czech Republic has now become completely independent from Russian oil supplies.

In recent years, the Czech Republic imported Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline. The remaining oil entered the country via the TAL pipeline. A project to expand the pipeline's capacity from 4 million tons of oil per year to the country's required 7-8 million tons per year began in the fall of 2022 at the initiative of the Czech government. Costs amounted to approximately €70 million. The new volumes fully cover the needs of Czech refineries. 

The Druzhba pipeline has two branches in Europe: the pipeline branches off in Mozyr, Belarus, with the southern branch going to Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, and the northern branch to Poland and Germany. Oil shipments from Russia through the northern branch were halted due to EU sanctions . This section carries Kazakh oil to Europe.

"We've taken another step toward our energy independence," Fiala said ( as quoted by Ceske Noviny). He added that the decision will strengthen the Czech Republic's energy security, as its previous dependence on Russian supplies left the country "vulnerable."

According to Czech pipeline operator Mero, the first oil shipments arrived from the Italian port of Trieste to the Central Oil Terminal in Nelahozeves on April 16. Today, Mero plans to begin transporting oil to its owner, Orlen Unipetrol, at the Litvínov refinery.

The Czech Republic announced its decision to abandon Russian oil and gas after the start of the military operation in Ukraine in 2022. While Russian supplies accounted for 58% of the Czech Republic's total oil imports in 2023, last year it was 42% (2.7 million tons). Azerbaijan was the second-largest importer, with a 40% share (2.6 million tons). Kazakhstan ranked third with a 16% share (1.02 million tons).

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