The Czech Republic ends 60 years of dependency on Russian oil

The Czech Republic has ended its dependency on Russian oil after more than six decades, a major shift made in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Partagez:

The Czech Republic has officially stopped importing Russian oil, ending more than 60 years of energy dependency on Moscow. Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that the country is now receiving only non-Russian oil, marking a turning point in national energy policy. This decision came in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which prompted a reassessment of energy supply sources across many European countries.

Before this transition, the Czech Republic primarily relied on the Druzhba pipeline, which has been in operation since the 1960s, for its oil imports. In 2024, the country was still receiving more than 40% of its oil through this route. However, following the implementation of European sanctions, Prague sought to diversify its supplies, halting Russian deliveries in early March 2025.

Since then, the Czech Republic has been receiving its oil via the Transalpine pipeline (TAL), a network that connects Italy to Germany and is linked to the Czech Republic via the IKL pipeline. This change was made possible by a €60 million investment to expand the infrastructure. The first shipment of non-Russian oil arrived on April 12, 2025. The planned annual volume, up to eight million tonnes, is sufficient to ensure the security of national supply.

Strategic Diversification of Supply Sources

The TAL, launched in 1967, provides a solid alternative to the former supply routes. It now transports crude oil from the Caspian Sea, the Middle East, and North Africa. The consortium that owns the pipeline includes several major players in the sector, including the Czech public company Mero and multinational corporations Shell, Eni, and ExxonMobil.

Response to Geopolitical and Energy Challenges

The Czech Republic’s decision to move away from Russian oil is part of a broader effort to secure its energy supply and reduce dependence on Russian resources. This move follows the cessation of Russian gas imports, and the country also plans to stop using Russian uranium for its nuclear power plants. This transition demonstrates how the Czech Republic is adapting its energy policy to the new geopolitical challenges in Europe.

At a conference held on June 11, Brussels reaffirmed its goal to reduce energy costs for households and businesses by relying on targeted investments and greater consumer involvement.
The European Commission held a high-level dialogue to identify administrative obstacles delaying renewable energy and energy infrastructure projects across the European Union.
Despite increased generation capacity and lower tariffs, Liberia continues to rely on electricity imports to meet growing demand, particularly during the dry season.
South Korea's new president, Lee Jae-myung, is reviewing the national energy policy, aiming to rebalance nuclear regulations without immediately shutting down reactors currently in operation.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission released its 2024 annual report, highlighting sustained activity on grid infrastructure, pricing, and evolving European regulatory frameworks.
The United States is easing proposed penalties for foreign LNG tankers and vehicle carriers, sharply reducing initial costs for international operators while maintaining strategic support objectives for the American merchant marine.
While capital is flowing into clean technologies globally, Africa remains marginalised, receiving only a fraction of the expected flows, according to the International Energy Agency.
The Mexican government aims to mobilise up to $9bn in private investment by 2030, but the lack of a clear commercial framework raises doubts within the industry.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is withdrawing strict fuel economy standards adopted under Biden, citing overreach in legal authority regarding the integration of electric vehicles into regulatory calculations for automakers.
In 2024, renewable energies covered 33.9% of electricity consumption in metropolitan France, driven by increased hydropower output and solar capacity expansion.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has announced its strategic guidelines for 2030, focusing on the energy transition, European competitiveness and consumer needs.
Madrid paid an arbitration award to Blasket Renewable Investments after more than ten years of litigation related to the withdrawal of tax advantages for renewable energy investors.
The global renewable energy market continues to grow, reaching $1,200 billion in 2024, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), supported by investments in solar and wind energy.
The Québec government is granting $3.43mn to the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Electric Cooperative to deploy smart meters and upgrade infrastructure across 16 municipalities.
New US tariff measures are driving up energy sector costs, with a particularly strong impact on storage and solar, according to a study by Wood Mackenzie.
Despite the proclaimed urgency, European climate investments stagnate around €500 billion per year, far from the estimated needs of nearly €850 billion. New financial instruments are attempting to revive an indispensable momentum.
African countries now spend more on debt service than on education and healthcare, limiting essential investments despite significant energy potential. The G20, under pressure, struggles to provide an adequate response to the financial and climate challenges.
Four renewable energy producers have been authorised to sell 400 MW directly to Egyptian industrial companies without public support.
A report by Ember shows ASEAN could supply nearly one-third of its data centres with wind and solar power by 2030 without storage, provided appropriate public policies are implemented.
Spanish authorities and grid operator REE denied conducting any experiment on the national electricity network prior to the massive outage on April 28, the cause of which remains unknown.