Orlen Ends Russian Oil Contracts, Central Europe Gains Energy Independence

Polish state energy company Orlen has officially ended its reliance on Russian crude oil, with the expiration of its last contract with Rosneft on June 30, 2025, which supplied the Litvínov refinery in the Czech Republic. This marks the completion of Orlen's transition to non-Russian oil sources across its Polish, Lithuanian, and Czech refineries, sourcing crude from regions including the North Sea, Mediterranean, Saudi Arabia, Africa, and the Americas. The Czech Republic also achieved full independence from Russian oil for the first time, aided by upgrades to the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL) that increased capacity for alternative deliveries from the west, bypassing the Druzhba pipeline historically used for Russian supplies. Orlen CEO Ireneusz Fąfara emphasized that the move strengthens regional energy security and ensures that revenues from Russian oil no longer finance conflict, specifically referencing the war in Ukraine. The transition involved extensive technological upgrades at the Litvínov refinery to process diverse crude blends, reflecting a strategic shift away from longstanding dependence on Russia. This development aligns with broader Central European efforts to reduce energy ties to Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.