Czechia’s fuel diversification efforts set an example, but it still has key energy security challenges to tackle

At a time of renewed global appreciation for the energy security benefits of maintaining a diversified fuel import portfolio, Czechia shows how a country can swiftly move to reduce its dependence on a single supplier.

Historically heavily reliant on Russian oil and gas, Czechia has in recent years laid the groundwork for a more diversified fuel supply mix through swift policy action and targeted investment in energy infrastructure. However, the country’s exposure to supply disruptions will not completely disappear any time soon. This leaves it vulnerable to fuel market volatility and necessitates a continued focus on oil and gas security and emergency preparedness.

At the same time, Czechia must contend with a range of additional risks to its energy security – particularly around the country’s electricity sector, with the generation mix set to evolve significantly over the next decade.

These are some of the findings of the IEA’s recent Emergency and Security Review (ESR) of Czechia1, which saw a team of experts analyse short-term risks to energy security in the country and offer guidance on strengthening energy security policies and emergency preparedness. These reviews are coordinated by the IEA for all Member countries every five years, in parallel with a broader review of energy policies – offering important takeaways for decision makers as they navigate the latest energy opportunities and challenges.

One of the most notable recent developments in the Czech energy sector is the diversification oil and gas imports.

In 2022, more than half of Czechia’s crude oil imports came from a single source: Russia, via the Druzhba pipeline. This made the country especially vulnerable to supply disruptions, which occurred on several occasions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – sometimes requiring the release of emergency oil reserves to keep Czechia’s two refineries operational.

Concerns about further oil supply disruptions led to an intensification of efforts to expand the capacity of an alternative crude oil supply source: the TAL-IKL pipeline, which delivers crude oil to Czechia from the Italian port of Trieste. An expansion of this pipeline was completed in early 2025, allowing Czechia’s refineries to source crude oil from a broader range of international suppliers and enabling the country to completely end Russian crude oil imports by April 2025.

Czechia’s dependence on Russian natural gas has historically been even greater than its dependence on Russian oil; prior to 2022, virtually all the natural gas consumed in Czechia was imported from Russia. But after developing a more diversified portfolio of suppliers, Czechia also succeeded in phasing out Russian gas imports earlier this year.

This was achieved by increasing pipeline imports from Norway and by the acquisition of capacity at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Netherlands (Eemshaven) by ČEZ Group and Czechia’s Ministry of Industry & Trade (MIT). The recent acquisition of capacity at another LNG import terminal (Stade in Germany) will enable Czechia to diversify its gas imports even further by facilitating imports from a variety of global LNG suppliers.

Although progress in diversifying oil and gas imports has significantly enhanced the country’s fuel security, Czechia remains vulnerable to volatility in fossil fuel markets. Oil and gas accounted for a combined 40% of Czechia’s total energy supply in 2024, and they are both set to continue to play a significant role in the country’s energy mix for the foreseeable future.

While the rate of growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales in Czechia is among the highest in Europe, it is starting from a low base. Given this, EV uptake is not expected to have a major impact on demand for gasoline and diesel in short term. Jet fuel consumption also shows no signs of declining. Meanwhile, based on today’s policy settings, demand for natural gas is set to rise in the near-term as it increasingly serves as a substitute for coal in heat and electricity generation.

As a result of these trends, Czechia will need to continue to prioritise oil and gas security, as well as emergency preparedness.

The Czech electricity sector is also undergoing a profound transformation that needs to be considered from an energy security perspective. Coal-fired generation, which accounted for 35% of power generation in Czechia in 2024, is officially set to be phased out by 2033 as part of a transition to a generation mix dominated by nuclear power and renewables. Gas-fired generation is also set to play a growing role through the end of this decade, though its longer-term prospects are uncertain.

This transition should ultimately enhance the security of electricity supply by reducing Czechia’s dependence on imported fuels. However, a secure transformation of the country’s electricity generation mix will also require significant investment in additional generation capacity, flexibility options and grid development to ensure that generation adequacy, a high standard of reliability and system stability are all maintained.

A significant regional power outage in Czechia in July 2025, which resulted in a loss of power for several hours for around 1 million consumers, underscored the need to further strengthen the resilience of Czechia’s electricity grid. (An investigation is currently being carried out by responsible authorities to determine the cause and possible lessons that can be learned.) Additionally, ensuring resource adequacy and the reliability of the electricity system will be particularly pressing over the next 5 to 10 years given the extent of coal-fired generation losses and uncertainty about the amount of dispatchable generation capacity that will be available. No new nuclear capacity is expected before 2036 at the earliest.

Czechia’s energy security challenges – from bolstering the diversity of fuel supplies to the need for more resilient power systems – are far from unique. This provides opportunities for collaboration and mutual learning with other IEA Member countries. In the electricity sector, Czechia can learn from the experiences of countries that are further along in the process of phasing out coal-fired generation and increasing flexibility options. Similarly, other countries can learn from Czechia’s efforts to enhance the security of its oil and gas supply – notably those that remain overly reliant on a small number of suppliers.

The IEA Review Team provided the Czech government with several recommendations on areas that require continued vigilance and, in some instances, proposed policy action or the implementation of strengthened emergency planning. These recommendations covered a diverse range of issues, including the composition of emergency oil stockholding, scenario modelling of oil and gas demand, ensuring electricity resource adequacy and reliability, and embedding strict cybersecurity standards across the energy value chain.

The IEA will continue to work closely with Czechia on these issues, providing guidance as required in support of strong energy security policies and emergency planning measures. The IEA will also count on Czechia to share expertise and best practices with governments from across the IEA Family as part of a joint effort to strengthen global energy security and emergency preparedness.