Czech Republic Achieves Full Break from Russian Oil Dependency

The Czech Republic has officially ended its reliance on Russian oil for the first time in its history, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on Thursday, April 17. This major energy milestone comes after the launch of an expanded oil supply via the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), which transports crude from Italy through Germany to the Czech Republic.

Fiala confirmed that the country is now entirely supplied with non-Russian oil, thanks to the TAL expansion project finalized in 2023. The development forms part of the Czech government’s broader strategy to cut energy ties with Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Before the expansion, the Czech Republic depended heavily on Russian oil delivered through the Druzhba pipeline. That supply route was officially halted in early March 2024, paving the way for the nation’s complete transition. The first full-capacity delivery from the expanded TAL pipeline arrived on Wednesday, marking a significant energy shift.

While the European Union banned most Russian oil imports after the Ukraine conflict began, the Czech Republic had initially continued to receive supplies through the Druzhba pipeline due to limited alternatives. However, recent infrastructure upgrades have enabled a full switch.

In addition to oil, the Czech Republic has already ended its dependence on Russian natural gas and is preparing to stop using Russian uranium in its nuclear plants by the end of the year.

The expanded TAL pipeline now has the capacity to deliver up to eight million tonnes of oil annually—sufficient to meet the country’s full demand. Originating from the Italian port of Trieste, the pipeline runs through southern Germany and links to the Czech Republic’s domestic IKL pipeline.

TAL is operated by a consortium that includes Czech state-owned firm Mero and energy giants such as Shell, Eni, and ExxonMobil.

This move marks a significant step in the Czech Republic’s long-term energy security and aligns with broader EU efforts to sever energy ties with Russia.