Czech Republic Offers Slovakia Emergency Oil Supplies via Druzhba Pipeline

Havlíček's Offer: Oil Solidarity in Practice

Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava on Tuesday, February 17, and presented him with a concrete offer: the Czech Republic is prepared to supply Slovakia with oil via its own branch of the Druzhba pipeline. This is an unprecedented step that demonstrates practical energy solidarity between neighbors at a time when Slovakia is facing a serious oil crisis.

How the Crisis Began

The trigger for the entire situation was Ukraine's decision to halt the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline on January 30, 2026. Kyiv described this move as a political decision in the context of the ongoing conflict. Slovakia and Hungary, which are still dependent on Russian oil, found themselves without a key supply channel.

The Slovak government responded on February 18 by declaring a state of oil emergency, effective until September 30, 2026. Slovnaft refinery – the only one in Slovakia – requested an emergency loan of up to 250,000 tons of oil from strategic reserves from the state, which would ensure operation for about one month. Prime Minister Fico also announced an immediate halt to fuel exports to Ukraine.

Technical Reality: Small Volumes, Large Investments

Havlíček's offer has its technical limitations. The Czech branch of the Druzhba pipeline, operated by the state-owned company Mero, has historically transported oil in the opposite direction – from Slovakia to the Czech Republic. Reversing the flow for emergency supplies is physically possible, but the existing infrastructure would only allow for relatively small, crisis volumes.

"Technical preparation and adjustments may take several months. At the same time, we are ready to supply emergency quantities even in the current state," said Havlíček. Mero's CEO, Jaroslav Pantůček, announced that specific figures on maximum transport capacities would be available approximately one week after the meeting.

For larger supply volumes, which Slovnaft would actually need for full operation, a significant modernization of the pipeline infrastructure would be necessary. This is a matter of months, not days.

Czech Republic Not Dependent on Russian Oil

The situation clearly illustrates the strategic difference between the two countries. The Czech Republic has invested in diversifying its oil supplies and is now fully supplied from the West – via the Italian TAL pipeline and the connected IKL pipeline. It is therefore not dependent on Russian oil and can offer assistance to its neighbors from a position of strength.

At the meeting in Bratislava, Havlíček also mentioned plans to increase the capacity of natural gas transport from Germany through the Czech Republic to Slovakia, with necessary investments in compressor stations planned for 2026 and 2028.

Slovakia Seeks Alternatives

Bratislava is meanwhile working on alternative solutions. The key emergency route is the Croatian Adria pipeline, through which oil from ports on the Adriatic Sea could flow to Slovakia. Redirecting supplies via this route is logistically challenging and is estimated to take 20 to 30 days to become fully operational. Stocks at petrol stations are currently sufficient, according to the Slovak Commission for Oil Security NESO.

Geopolitical Dimension of the Crisis

The oil crisis also has a strong political dimension. Fico openly accused Ukrainian President Zelensky of deliberately blocking the resumption of Druzhba supplies. In response, Slovakia has halted fuel exports to Ukraine – a move that creates further tension in already complex mutual relations.

In this context, the Czech offer of assistance represents not only a practical energy tool, but also a diplomatic signal: Central European countries can act in a coordinated and solidary manner in crisis situations, regardless of the political differences of their governments.