Czech Republic ends reliance on Druzhba oil pipeline

This was announced on April 17 by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura, and the General Director of MERO ČR Jaroslav Pantuček at the Central Oil Depot in Nelahozeves, reports ČTK.

The outlet noted that the Czech Republic can now pump up to 8 million tons of crude oil per year from western pipelines, fully covering the consumption of the country's oil refineries.

“We’ve taken another step toward our energy independence,” said the Prime Minister, adding that this has strengthened energy security, as the previous dependence on Russian supplies made the country vulnerable.

The first increased deliveries of non-Russian oil have already arrived from the oil terminal in Trieste to the Central Oil Depot in Nelahozeves, from where it will be transported to the refinery in Litvínov.

• On March 4, oil stopped flowing to the Czech Republic through the Druzhba pipeline. The government stated that there is no threat of an oil shortage for domestic needs.