Main image: From left: General Director of MERO Jaroslav Pantůček, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura at a press conference on the completion of the TAL-PLUS pipeline project, April 17, 2025, Nelahozeves. CTK/Krumphanzl Michal.
The Czech Republic is now independent from the Druzhba pipeline for the first time in over 60 years. The first increased deliveries of non-Russian oil have arrived at the Central Oil Tanking Facility in Nelahozeves from the storage tank in Trieste, Italy, from where it will be transported to the Litvínov refinery. Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (both from ODS), and the General Director of MERO ČR, Jaroslav Pantůček, shared this information with journalists at the Central Oil Tanking Facility in Nelahozeves today.
Oil has not flowed from the Druzhba pipeline to the Czech Republic for several weeks now.
The Czech Republic can now draw up to eight million tons of oil annually from western pipelines, which fully covers the consumption of the refineries in the country.
"We have completed another step towards our energy independence," announced the Prime Minister. He added that this enhances energy security, as the previous dependence on Russian supplies made the Czech Republic vulnerable.
According to Pantůček, the Czech Republic is now using the increased capacity of the TAL pipeline in full operation.
"The first increased deliveries of non-Russian oil arrived from the Italian port of Trieste to the Central Oil Tanking Facility in Nelahozeves on Wednesday. Already this afternoon, MERO ČR will begin transporting the oil to its owner, Orlen Unipetrol, to the refinery in Litvínov," said the Director of MERO ČR.
The refinery is ready for the transition in oil supply. In previous years, deliveries were approximately 50% Russian oil and 50% non-Russian oil.
The decision to implement the project called TAL-PLUS, which ensured the increased transport capacity of the European TAL pipeline, was made by the Czech government in November 2022. This was a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The technical work began in May 2024. Stanjura confirmed today that the costs of achieving full independence from Russian raw materials will not exceed 1.6 billion CZK and will be paid by MERO ČR from its own revenue.
"We originally planned for the whole process to start on July 1, but due to the acceleration of work and the excellent results of all tests, we are able to realize it in April," added Stanjura.
According to Pantůček, the use of the Druzhba pipeline will be part of another strategic project, but its details have not yet been decided. Information will be released by MERO once a specific plan is approved.
