Czech Republic Ends Dependence on Russian Oil

The Czech Republic has ended its decades-long dependence on Russian oil, with Prime Minister Petr Fiala declaring that, for the first time in over 60 years, the country is now fully independent of Russian supplies. This shift was enabled by the expansion and modernization of the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), allowing crude oil imports from alternative sources, particularly via the Italian port of Trieste. The transition comes after the country stopped receiving oil through the Druzhba pipeline, partly due to payment issues linked to US sanctions on Russian banks. The new infrastructure now provides enough capacity to meet all of the Czech Republic's refinery needs, marking a significant strategic and symbolic move toward energy sovereignty and reduced Russian influence. While some neighboring countries will continue importing Russian oil, Czechia's policymakers emphasize that the move will prevent future Russian leverage over its energy supplies. The shift was financed domestically and accompanied by technical upgrades at Czech refineries to process non-Russian oil blends.