**Czech Republic Breaks Free from Russian Oil Dependency**
In a significant move, the Czech Republic has announced that it is no longer dependent on Russian oil. This milestone was reached on April 17th, marking the first time in history that no Russian pipeline oil flows to the country.
The change comes after Prague secured alternative supplies through the expansion of the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), which runs through Italy, Austria, and Germany. For over 60 years, Czechia had relied heavily on Russia’s Druzhba oil pipeline for its energy needs. However, with the recent development, the country is now receiving no supplies through this pipeline.
This achievement underscores Europe’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian fossil fuels in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. In May, the European Union (EU) is expected to present a plan for a full phase-out of Russian fossil fuels by 2027. The Czech government sees this as a crucial step towards energy independence and has been actively working towards it.
**A Shift Away from Russian Oil**
The Czech Republic had not received Druzhba oil for several weeks, with Russian oil covering roughly half of the country’s demand in recent years. Prague now expects to receive up to 8 million metric tons of oil from the western pipeline per year, which should be sufficient to cover its needs.
It’s worth noting that while the EU banned Russian pipeline oil imports in 2022, Czechia received a waiver due to the lack of viable alternatives. However, with the launch of the TAL-PLUS project in November 2022 and technical work beginning in May 2024, Prague has been working towards ending its reliance on Russian oil.
**A New Era for Energy Independence**
This development marks a significant shift away from Russian oil for the Czech Republic and highlights Europe’s efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. As the EU moves forward with plans to phase out Russian energy by 2027, countries like Czechia will play a crucial role in achieving this goal.
The Druzhba pipeline, which was first launched in then-Czechoslovakia in 1962, has been an essential part of the country’s energy infrastructure. However, its importance is now declining as Prague looks to alternative suppliers and reduces its reliance on Russian oil.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
