PRAGUE — Czech officials announced on Wednesday that the delivery of oil from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline has been halted. The state-owned company Mero, which manages the pipeline network within the country, is currently evaluating the situation regarding this interruption.

Mero reassured that “the supplies have not been threatened,” noting that the country possesses reserves that can last for up to 90 days. Furthermore, oil deliveries from western sources through the TAL and IKL pipelines have remained uninterrupted.

Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukas Vlcek indicated that the cause of the disruption was not immediately known. “The Czech refiners are well ready for such a situation, and we have a robust system of state reserves,” Vlcek stated, reflecting the country’s preparedness for potential supply issues.

Orlen Unipetrol, a key refining company in the Czech Republic, confirmed that its operations have not faced any disruptions due to the halt in deliveries. It’s worth noting that the Czech Republic, alongside Slovakia and Hungary, is one of the final European Union member states still receiving oil imports from Russia. Other EU nations ceased purchasing Russian oil after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, implementing sanctions aimed at holding Russia accountable for its aggressive actions.

The exception that allows the Czech Republic to continue importing oil from Russia is set to expire on Thursday, and the government has previously indicated that it does not intend to request an extension.

To bolster its oil import capabilities, the Czech Republic has invested in expanding the capacity of the Italian TAL pipeline to eight million metric tons annually, a project which transitions into the IKL pipeline through Germany, ultimately reaching the Czech Republic. This expansion is projected to reach completion in early 2025.