By Gloria Nosa
Czech Republic Cuts the Cord on Russian Energy, Declares Full Independence
In a historic shift, the Czech Republic has officially severed its reliance on Russian gas and oil, marking a major turning point in its energy policy — and a significant economic blow to Moscow.
During a visit to the Nelahozeves terminal near Prague, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced the milestone with pride.
“After nearly 60 years, we’ve ended our energy dependence on Russia. For the first time ever, the Czech Republic is fully powered by non-Russian oil and supplied entirely through western routes,” he stated.
Russia once supplied around half of the Czech Republic’s oil, most of it pumped through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline. But that era is now closing.
Czech pipeline operator MERO confirmed that upgrades to the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), which channels oil from Trieste, Italy, are on track to finish by the end of 2024. Once complete, the improved network will funnel oil through Germany and into the Czech Republic via the Ingolstadt–Kralupy–Litvínov system — effectively bypassing Russian sources altogether.
