PRAGUE (AP) — Oil supplies to the Czech Republic from Russia via the Druhzba pipeline have resumed after it was interrupted two days ago, state-owned Mero, which operates the country’s pipeline network, said Friday.
It was not yet clear why deliveries were stopped on Wednesday morning. Czech refiner Orlen Unipetrol said on Friday its operations were not affected.
The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary are the only European Union member states that receive oil from Russia. Other EU countries stopped buying Russian oil after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine as part of EU sanctions to punish Russia for the aggression.
Trusted news and daily treats, straight to your inbox
See for yourself: The Yodel is the source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.
The Czechs have invested about 1.6 billion Czech crowns ($67 million) to double the capacity of Italy’s TAL pipeline to eight million tons per year, which runs as IKL through Germany and into the Czech Republic or the Czech Republic. That amount would cover the country’s needs.
The project is expected to be operational in early 2025.
