EU 'hardliner' increases Russian imports, reports say
According to a news portal, the Czech Republic has increased its energy imports from the sanctioned country. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Despite EU sanctions on Moscow, the Czech Republic has been increasing its energy imports from Russia, according to a report from news portal Ekonomickydenik, which referenced official statistics.
The report highlighted a significant 11.4% increase in imports from Russia during the first half of 2024, totaling $1.5 billion. This increase was primarily driven by a surge in Russian gas deliveries.
The data revealed that the Czech Republic's imports of Russian natural gas soared to $370 million in the first six months of the year, marking an eightfold increase compared to the same period last year.
The main items the Czech Republic imports from Russia include oil, natural gas, and nuclear fuel, which are essential for its two nuclear power stations. Additional imports include Russian aluminum, nickel, synthetic fertilizers, and metallurgical products.
There has also been a notable rise in indirect imports of Russian gas. This involves the Czech Republic purchasing surplus gas from Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, all of which depend significantly on Russian gas. It's important to note that Czech traders are not directly involved in any contracts with Russian gas giant Gazprom.
Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, Prague has been actively seeking alternatives to Russian gas, turning to suppliers in Norway and the US. The US supplies LNG, which is predominantly received at a Dutch terminal.
The economic appeal of Russian gas has grown due to the increased costs of transporting Norwegian gas and American LNG to EU terminals, as reported by Ekonomickydenik. There has been a significant rise in the transportation tariffs recently.
The report also indicated a continued decline in Czech exports to Russia. However, indirect exports to Russia through third countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Armenia are increasing.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
The report highlighted a significant 11.4% increase in imports from Russia during the first half of 2024, totaling $1.5 billion. This increase was primarily driven by a surge in Russian gas deliveries.
The data revealed that the Czech Republic's imports of Russian natural gas soared to $370 million in the first six months of the year, marking an eightfold increase compared to the same period last year.
The main items the Czech Republic imports from Russia include oil, natural gas, and nuclear fuel, which are essential for its two nuclear power stations. Additional imports include Russian aluminum, nickel, synthetic fertilizers, and metallurgical products.
There has also been a notable rise in indirect imports of Russian gas. This involves the Czech Republic purchasing surplus gas from Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, all of which depend significantly on Russian gas. It's important to note that Czech traders are not directly involved in any contracts with Russian gas giant Gazprom.
Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, Prague has been actively seeking alternatives to Russian gas, turning to suppliers in Norway and the US. The US supplies LNG, which is predominantly received at a Dutch terminal.
The economic appeal of Russian gas has grown due to the increased costs of transporting Norwegian gas and American LNG to EU terminals, as reported by Ekonomickydenik. There has been a significant rise in the transportation tariffs recently.
The report also indicated a continued decline in Czech exports to Russia. However, indirect exports to Russia through third countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Armenia are increasing.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
