- Norway replaces Russia as Czechia’s leading energy supplier, boosting oil and gas security.
- The shift supports diversification, with Norway providing oil and 71% of Czechia’s natural gas.
Norway replaces Russia as Czechia’s leading energy supplier, marking a historic shift in the country’s energy strategy. Over the last three years, Norway has become Czechia’s leading source of natural gas. More recently, it has overtaken Russia in oil supply, underscoring the country’s determination to cut dependence on Moscow.
According to the Czech Statistical Office, Norway is now the second-largest oil supplier after Azerbaijan. Russian oil imports ended in March after EU sanctions prevented Orlen Unipetrol, the owner of Czech refineries, from making payments to Russian firms.
The Litvínov refinery switched to Norwegian and Saudi Arabian crude, while the Kralupy nad Vltavou refinery continues processing lighter Caspian oil. In July, Czechia imported 606,000 tonnes of oil, including 220,000 tonnes from Norway and 250,000 tonnes from Azerbaijan. Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan filled the remaining share.
Norway replaces Russia as Czechia’s leading oil and natural gas energy supplier. Between January and July 2025, Czechia imported gas worth 50.7 billion CZK. Norway provided nearly 71 per cent of these volumes, while the rest came from the European market. This represents a significant reversal from 2024, when Russian gas accounted for 32 per cent of imports.
The shift gained momentum in early 2025 after Ukraine refused to extend the Russian transit contract. Czech suppliers began relying on Germany’s gas network, and some months even saw reverse gas flows towards Slovakia. Hungary is also set to benefit from this westbound route.
Polish energy giant Orlen, the parent company of Orlen Unipetrol, supports the shift by developing production in the Norwegian North Sea and signing long-term contracts with Equinor. Supplies from the Johan Sverdrup field will serve refineries in Poland, Lithuania, and Czechia.
By diversifying supplies through Norway and Saudi Arabia, Czechia has strengthened energy security, reduced reliance on Russia, and reinforced regional stability.