Oil flow to Czech Republic via Russian Druhzba pipeline resumes after unexplained stoppage

PRAGUE– Oil delivery to the Czech Republic from Russia via the Druhzba pipeline resumed after it was interrupted two days ago, state-owned Mero, which operates the country’s pipeline network, announced on Friday.

It is still unclear why delivery was interrupted Wednesday morning. Czech refiner Orlen Unipetrol said Friday its operations had not been affected.

The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary are the only European Union member states that receive Russian oil. Other EU countries stopped buying Russian oil following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as part of EU sanctions aimed at punishing Russia for its aggression.

The Czechs have invested some 1.6 billion Czech crowns ($67 million) to double the capacity of Italy’s TAL gas pipeline to eight million tonnes per year, which continues under the name IKL through Germany and to Czech Republic, or Czechia. This amount would cover the needs of the country.

The project is expected to be operational in early 2025.