The news in Czech
Česká vláda plánuje zajistit stabilní dodávky ropy. Orlen Unipetrol dostane 330 000 tun ropy. Ropa z Ruska teď nefunguje, ale TAL pipeline je v provozu. Do konce roku by měla být rozšířena. Česko chce nezávislost na ruské ropě. Projekt stojí 1,6 miliardy korun.
Translation
The Czech government plans to secure steady oil supplies. Orlen Unipetrol will receive 330,000 tonnes of oil. Russian oil is currently unavailable, but the TAL pipeline is operational. It is expected to be expanded by the end of the year. The Czech Republic seeks independence from Russian oil. The project will cost 1.6 billion Czech koruna.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: How much oil will Orlen Unipetrol receive?
Orlen Unipetrol will receive 330,000 tons of oil.
Question 2: What is the cost of the project to become independent from Russian oil?
The cost of the project is 1.6 billion crowns.
Exercise: Vocabulary
Read the full story
▌05/12/2024
The Czech government has announced measures to ensure a stable oil supply amidst potential disruptions in deliveries via the Druzheba pipeline. In response to the halted oil flow from Russia on Wednesday, the government plans to lend the refinery company Orlen Unipetrol 330,000 tonnes of oil from its emergency reserves. This amount is expected to sustain refinery operations for over a month, according to Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček.
During a government press conference, Vlček assured the public of sufficient oil availability for the domestic market. He further mentioned that the state is prepared to release additional resources if necessary. Meanwhile, the western route for oil imports remains operational.
A significant shift in Czechia's oil supply strategy is underway, as the country positions itself to cease reliance on Russian oil entirely. Václav Bartuška, the Foreign Ministry's special envoy for energy security, affirmed that Czechia can withstand the cessation of deliveries through the Druzheba pipeline. "We can manage without it permanently," Bartuška told Czech Radio, highlighting the ongoing enhancement of the TAL pipeline.
Czechia Moves to Wean Off Russian Oil Supplies (Illustration)
Historically, Czechia received oil through two main channels: the Druzheba pipeline, which accounted for 58% of its supply last year, and through the IKL pipeline from Germany, connected to Italy's TAL pipeline. While the cessation affects only Czechia in the Druzheba corridor, the neighbouring Slovakia and Hungary continue to receive supplies from the pipeline.
The current efforts in reinforcing the TAL pipeline are expected to fortify Czechia's independence from Russian oil. By the end of the year, the construction required to enhance the pipeline's capacity should be completed. Anticipations are set for testing and official approval by early next year, but the country is already prepared to utilize this increased capacity in emergencies.
In the future, Czechia aims to receive up to eight million tonnes of oil annually through the expanded capacity of the TAL pipeline, potentially severing its dependency on Russian imports. The ongoing project, estimated at 1.6 billion Czech crowns, demonstrates a significant shift in the nation's energy strategy and underscores its commitment to energy security.
Info: "Czech Learner News" is a service from "Let's Learn Czech," a language school dedicated to teaching the Czech language. We offer various types of online courses, including the comprehensive Czech language course.
