The Czech Republic will get rid of its dependence on Russian oil this year. MERO ČR and the TAL consortium have completed the main technical work on the TAL-PLUS project. Today, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura confirmed at the Central Oil Tank Farm in Nelahozeves that the Czech Republic is already technically ready to switch to full Western oil supply via the TAL and IKL pipelines in the event of Russian oil shortages from the Druzhba pipeline.
The TAL-PLUS project, decided by Prime Minister Fiala's government in November 2022, will increase the transport capacity of the European TAL pipeline. This will make the Czech Republic no longer dependent on Russian oil from the Druzhba pipeline. The Czech Republic will receive up to 8 million tonnes of oil per year via the TAL and IKL pipelines, which will completely cover the country's needs.
In the coming months, MERO ČR in cooperation with the TAL consortium will complete the operational tests and certification of the new system. According to all assumptions, the Czech Republic will be cut off from Russian oil and fully supplied with oil via the western route via the IKL and TAL pipelines by the middle of this year.
"The construction work on the TAL pipeline extension has been successfully completed. The TAL-PLUS project has been pushed through and implemented and after decades we will finally stop being energy dependent on Russia and blackmailed by the Russian regime. Our government took action immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and in a record two years we have managed to ensure that the Czech Republic has sufficient secure energy sources. We got rid of our dependence on Russian gas last year, and this year we will also cut ourselves off from Russian oil. This is an extremely important moment for the energy security of our country and each of us," announced Prime Minister Fiala.
"On behalf of the Ministry of Finance, which is 100% owner of MERO ČR, I would like to emphasize that this project was implemented in record time. Our government gave the green light to the TAL-PLUS project in November 2022. And now, just two years later, the project is technically ready for the eventual full supply of oil to the Czech Republic via the Western route. Thanks to the TAL-PLUS project, the Czech Republic will be able to pump up to 8 million tonnes of oil per year via the western route, i.e. the TAL and IKL pipelines. This will fully cover the consumption of refineries in the Czech Republic. The cost of this complete independence from Russian crude will not exceed CZK 1.6 billion and will be covered by MERO CR from its revenues. They will therefore have no direct impact on the state budget," added Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura.
According to Jaroslav Pantůček, CEO of MERO ČR, this is a key project of the last few years: "The TAL-PLUS project is one of the most significant investments in the history of MERO ČR and also one of the most technologically demanding projects. I am very pleased that we have managed to meet the planned schedule of works and I can confirm that the main technological works on the TAL-PLUS project have been completed. We have also already successfully tested the new system together with the TAL consortium and confirmed its functionality. Thanks to this, the TAL pipeline is now technically ready to supply the Czech Republic fully via the western route in the event of oil supply disruptions from Druzhba."
In the first half of this year, the remaining operational tests as well as technical work on the Central Oil Tank Farm will be completed. From the middle of this year we will be ready to switch to full supply of the Czech Republic with only non-Russian oil via the western route via the TAL and IKL pipelines.
"The TAL Consortium has always been aware of the strategic importance of the TAL-PLUS project for the energy security of the Czech Republic and has been fully committed to its implementation. We are pleased to announce that the target capacity test, implemented in December 2024, has been successfully completed. This result was achieved thanks to the joint efforts invested by all stakeholders: MERO, shareholders, the TAL team and suppliers," added the CEO of TAL Alessio Lilli.
The TAL-PLUS project: what's already done
- 2015-2016: feasibility study for the intensification of the TAL pipeline and investment negotiations
- March 2022: Negotiations with shareholders
- June 2022: Feasibility study update
- July 2022: Permission obtained from the Bavarian government for increased TAL performance
- November 2022: Consent of the Government of the Czech Republic for the investment
- November 2022: Approval of the TAL-PLUS project at the TAL Consortium's highest body meeting
- May 2023: Contract with TAL consortium concluded
- July-December 2023: Contracting suppliers
- April 2024: IKL pipeline control system modification completed
- May-December 2024: Installation of new pumps, motors, gradual increase of TAL's transport capacity
- September-December 2024: Installation of new flow meters at all delivery points
- Ongoing: construction works at the tank yards in Vohburg and Nelahozeves
The TAL-PLUS project in 2025: what lies ahead
- Achieving maximum performance and capacity of the TAL pipeline
- Installation of backup pumps, completion of construction work
- Verification operational tests and certification
- Updating operational and technical documentation
- Czech Republic without Russian oil
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