The Czech Republic could begin importing Ukrainian oil by the end of this year. Kyiv is negotiating purchases with Poland’s Orlen, which owns Czech refineries, Czech outlets Radiožurnál and iROZHLAS.cz reported, citing sources.
Ukraine initiated the talks. Most Ukrainian refineries have been destroyed by Russian strikes, leaving virtually no capacity to process domestic crude. At the same time, production cannot simply be halted because it is technically linked to natural gas extraction, which is needed for industry and heating.
For Orlen, buying Ukrainian oil would be both a form of assistance to Ukraine and a commercially attractive move, as the price is lower, according to the outlets’ sources. The pipeline company Mero also supports the project — it would be a chance to restart the Czech section of the Druzhba pipeline, which has been idle since the country phased out Russian oil.
Potential volumes would be significant, sources estimate: roughly 75,000 to 100,000 tons per month. That’s nearly 15% of the Czech Republic’s annual oil consumption (around 7 million tons) and up to 20% of the Litvínov refinery’s capacity.
Slovak pipeline operator Transpetrol confirmed it had been approached about possible transit.
“Intensive working consultations are ongoing between our company and Orlen Unipetrol RPA on a technical solution for the pipeline’s content. Because the technological volume of the Slovak section of Druzhba is the Russian export blend, due to EU sanctions the Czech side must find a way to technically and administratively separate the flows. This would allow Transpetrol to transport Ukrainian oil across Slovakia and hand it over to the Czech operator,” spokesperson Lucia Pacnerová said.
It was reported that roughly 1 billion barrels of oil are currently at sea on tankers. Most of it is crude from countries under sanctions, including Russia, Iran and Venezuela.
