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Czech Republic to end Russian oil usage in very first half of 2025, PM says

The Czech Republic will end its use of Russian oil no behind the first half of 2025 as state pipeline company MERO completes a capacity upgrade on the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Tuesday.

The government has looked for to get rid of all dependence on Russian oil because Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years back.

Last year, MERO and the TAL pipeline company-- in which MERO holds a 5% stake-- signed an offer to boost capacity along the TAL by up to 4 million loads, changing products through the Druzhba pipeline from Russia that have actually been a pillar for 60 years.

Fiala told reporters work on the TAL technological upgrades was beginning and would complete this year. A screening period would follow.

We expect its complete launch no behind the very first half ( of 2025), he said in a broadcast press conference at an oil storage center outside Prague.

The nation, with a population of 10.9 million, had crude oil needs of 7.4 million heaps in 2015, with more than half coming via Druzhba, and the rest through TAL.

The European Union prohibited shipments of Russian oil from December 2022, however excused Druzhba pipeline supplies to provide time for a transition for those nations dependent on it.

The TAL link runs from Italy to Germany and hooks up to the IKL pipeline from Germany to the Czech Republic.

After the upgrade, the TAL will roughly double capacity reserved for the Czech Republic to 8 million lots of unrefined a. year, enough to cover the needs of the nation's 2 refineries,. both owned by Poland's Orlen.

(source: Reuters)