There are delays in the supply of Russian oil being delivered to the Czech Republic via the Druzhba pipeline, Czech refiner Orlen Unipetrol said on Wednesday, but noted its operations have not been affected.

“Production of fuel is going on without interruption and availability on the Czech market is not threatened,” Unipetrol, owned by Polish company Orlen PKN.WA, wrote on social media platform X.

“This is not an exceptional situation in the first days of the pumping month,” Orlen said in emailed response to questions from Reuters.

Czech pipeline operator Mero said it was investigating the situation and that alternative supply routes were in use.

“The Czech Republic’s oil supply is not threatened in any way,” its statement said, adding that supply via the western route through the TAL and IKL pipelines was running without any problems.

Orlen added: “Due to the dynamic situation in the regulatory environment, we have proactively asked the State Administration of Material Reserves to pre-negotiate a possible oil loan from state resources in order to secure the continuity of fuel production and supplies to the Czech market.”

The Czech Republic aims to end consumption of Russian oil in July next year after an upgrade to a transalpine pipeline allows it to ramp up shipments from the west, Mero said last month.

Prague said last month is not looking to extend an EU exemption allowing it to import diesel and other products made from Russian oil, taking a position that could end such imports from neighbouring Slovakia. The exemption expires on Dec. 5.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by: Jason Hovet in Prague and Marek Strzelecki in Warsaw; writing by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; editing by David Goodman and Jason Neely)