Czechia has announced it will not seek to extend its exemption from the European Union’s ban on Russian oil imports, set to expire on December 5. The exemption was initially granted due to the country’s reliance on Russian crude oil, but officials now believe it is no longer necessary.
Marek Vošahlík, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stated that Czechia is taking steps to achieve independence from Russian oil imports. "In the context of the current situation and measures undertaken, the Czech Republic does not see a reason to prolong the exemption," Vošahlík told the Czech Press Agency (ČTK).
Vošahlík’s comments align with a similar statement he made to Reuters, although he acknowledged that discussions with other EU nations, including Poland, could potentially influence the exemption’s status.
Poland’s Orlen, which operates refineries in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou in Czechia, has been preparing to end the use of Russian crude. In August, Orlen’s CEO Ireneusz Fafara announced the company was ready to halt Russian oil imports entirely, pending upgrades to oil pipeline connections from Germany to Czechia.
The Czech government anticipates full independence from Russian oil by mid-2024, following the completion of the TAL-PLUS project. This CZK 1.6 billion (€67.5 million) initiative will expand the capacity of the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), which supplies oil from the Italian port of Trieste to Austria, Germany, and Czechia via the IKL pipeline. Once operational, TAL-PLUS will allow Czechia to import up to 4 million tonnes of oil annually, eliminating the need for Russian imports through the Druzhba pipeline.
While Czechia is phasing out its reliance on Russian crude, other countries like Slovakia and Hungary continue to depend heavily on these imports. Slovakia’s refinery, Slovnaft, owned by Hungary’s MOL Group, relies on Russian oil and supplies fuel to neighboring countries, including Czechia.
Despite concerns over potential supply disruptions, Czechia has contingency plans. Reuters reports the country could compensate for any shortfall in Slovnaft’s fuel deliveries through alternative rail imports.
As Czechia progresses toward energy independence, its stance reflects a broader EU effort to reduce reliance on Russian energy amid geopolitical tensions.
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