Czech Republic Ends 60-Year Dependence on Russian Oil

The Czech Republic has ended more than 60 years of reliance on Russian oil, achieving full independence through the completion and expansion of the Western Transalpine (TAL) pipeline. This strategic shift allows the country to meet its entire oil demand—up to eight million tons annually—via shipments from the Italian port of Trieste, ensuring local refineries are fully supplied with non-Russian crude. Government officials, including Prime Minister Petr Fiala, have hailed this as a significant milestone for energy security and a major step toward diversification, especially in the context of recent geopolitical tensions. The upgrade to the TAL pipeline was fast-tracked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and funded entirely by the state-owned pipeline operator MERO ČR. The move is regarded as a historic achievement, enhancing the nation’s energy resilience and reducing dependence on a single supplier.