Potential suspension of oil supplies through the "Druzhba" pipeline. through Ukraine from Russia starting next year will not be a problem for the Czech Republic. This was stated by the country's energy security envoy Vaclav Bartushka, quoted by "Reuters".
Asked about the words of Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak that Russian oil flows could stop from January, Bartushka pointed out that Ukraine has warned in the past about a potential stoppage.
"This is not the first time, this time maybe they are serious about it - we will see,", he commented. "For the Czech Republic this is not a problem".
To end the partial dependence on the "Druzhba" pipeline, the Czech state pipeline operator MERO is investing in increasing the capacity of the TAL pipeline from Italy to Germany, which connects to the IKL pipeline supplying the Czech Republic.
From next year, the increased capacity will be sufficient for the total needs of the two refineries in the country, owned by the Polish company "Orlen", up to 8 million tons of crude oil per year.
MERO has said it plans to achieve the country's independence from Russian oil from early 2025, although the TAL upgrade will not be completed until June next year.