Czechia Officially Stops All Russian Oil Imports After 60 Years of Dependency

For the first time since joining the global oil network more than six decades ago, Czechia is no longer dependent on Russian oil, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced, Czech media ČTK reported on April 17.

The milestone comes after the successful expansion of the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), which brings oil from the West. The first increased volumes of non-Russian crude have already arrived at the country’s central oil terminal in Nelahozeves and are now headed to the Litvínov refinery, according to Czech officials.

“We’ve taken another step on the road to energy independence,” Fiala said at a press conference. “Our energy security is now stronger, as our previous reliance on Russian oil made us vulnerable.”

The newly upgraded TAL pipeline allows Czechia to import up to 8 million tons of crude oil per year from Western sources—enough to fully meet the country’s refining needs and completely replace supplies from the aging Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline.

The switch to non-Russian oil follows a strategic decision made by the Czech government in November 2022, in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Technical work on the TAL expansion began in May 2024 and was completed ahead of schedule.

Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura confirmed that the total cost of achieving full independence from Russian crude will not exceed $67 million, and will be covered entirely by MERO ČR, the state-owned pipeline operator.

“This was originally scheduled for July, but due to accelerated work and successful testing, we were able to implement the change as early as April,” Stanjura said.

MERO CEO Jaroslav Pantůček noted that this marks the first time the TAL pipeline has been used at its full designed capacity. “The first shipments of non-Russian oil arrived from the Italian port of Trieste to Nelahozeves on Wednesday. This afternoon, MERO will begin transporting the crude to its owner, Orlen Unipetrol, for processing at the Litvínov refinery,” he said.

The Druzhba pipeline, which had supplied around 42% of the country’s oil last year, has not delivered any Russian crude to Czechia for several weeks.

Earlier, Czechia officially delivered the last of its operable T-72M1 tanks to Ukraine, marking the end of its service within the Czech Army.

The final shipment of approximately 20 tanks was transferred in late March and early April 2025. These units had previously belonged to Czechia’s 73rd Tank Battalion, which now awaits delivery of modern Leopard 2 tanks from Germany to replenish its armored capabilities.

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