"Transneft: deliveries through the Druzhba oil pipeline to Russia are running smoothly

Oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline on the Russian territory are carried out normally. This was reported in the press service of Transneft on Wednesday, December 4.

"All deliveries through the Druzhba oil pipeline on Russian territory are carried out normally," Interfax quoted Transneft's message as saying.

Earlier in the day, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Lukas Vlcek said Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline had been halted. According to Unipetrol spokesman Pavel Kaidl, the reason is the delay in deliveries by the supplier.

The Druzhba pipeline provides 58% of the Czech Republic's oil imports. Vlček said that in case the country does not restore oil supplies, an oil loan from Czech material reserves will be issued to Unipetrol.

Back in December 2022, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that the Czech Republic will remain dependent on the Russian Druzhba gas pipeline until 2025.

It is noted that until this period, the country will receive oil from Russia through the southern branch of the pipeline, after which supplies will go through the transalpine oil pipeline TAL. Fiala added that the nine co-owners of the consortium operating the pipeline have approved the capacity expansion.

The Druzhba pipeline runs through Russia to the Belarusian city of Mozyr. It then branches into two strings: the northern one, heading toward Poland and Germany, and the southern one through Ukraine to Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia.