Czech Prime Minister says the country is ready to switch to Western oil supplies

The Czech Republic is ready to switch to oil supplies via the western route if Russian fuel supplies from the Druzhba pipeline are cut off. This was announced by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on January 15.

"The Czech Republic is now ready to switch to full-fledged oil supplies via the western route of the [transalpine pipeline] TAL and [oil pipeline] IKL in case of interruptions of Russian oil from the Druzhba pipeline", - writes the Cesky noviny edition with reference to the words of the Prime Minister.

It is noted that the increase in the capacity of TAL will provide the Czech Republic with an additional 4 million tons of oil. As Fiala noted, thanks to this the country will be able to import up to 8 million tons per year, which will help cover the needs of the country's refineries.

"Friendship" apart: what is known about the main oil pipeline from Russia to Europe

Clarification of the circumstances of a leak on one of the strings is ongoing

Earlier, on December 6, 2024, it was reported that oil supplies to the Czech Republic resumed after reports of their suspension. It was specified that oil from Russia did not arrive in the Czech Republic for two days, and an alternate route was used for pumping.

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