Czechia, which previously sourced nearly half of its oil via the Druzhba pipeline from Russia, has announced its shift to complete reliance on the Trans Alpine Pipeline (TAL). Prime Minister Petr Fiala hailed the move, stating, “Russia can no longer blackmail us, and we are now fully capable of securing oil supplies from the West.”
The TAL pipeline, operational since 1967, connects the Italian port of Trieste to southern Germany, with extensions supplying Czechia through the IKL pipeline. It is owned by a consortium that includes Shell, Eni, Exxon Mobil, and the Czech Republic’s Mero. TAL’s diverse supply network includes oil from the US, Libya, and Iraq, further reducing dependency on Russian energy.
Fiala’s claim of Russian “blackmail,” however, faces scrutiny. Historical data indicates Ukraine, not Russia, disrupted oil transit via Druzhba. Incidents in 2022 and 2024 saw Ukraine halt Russian oil flow to Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia, contradicting the narrative of direct Russian coercion. Meanwhile, geopolitical shifts continue, with the US pressuring Serbia to sever ties with Russian energy giants Gazprom and Gazprom Neft.
