SNP advises TAL on capacity expansion to secure crude oil supplies for the Czech Republic independent of Russia

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Munich, July 22, 2025 – The commercial law firm SNP Schlawien advised Deutsche Transalpine Oelleitung GmbH (TAL) on all legal issues relating to the implementation of a strategically important infrastructure project to secure the entire crude oil supply of the Czech Republic.

In view of geopolitical developments and the resulting threat to supplies via the southern Druschba pipeline, which traditionally supplied Russian oil to the Czech Republic, it was imperative to switch the entire supply of the two Czech refineries in Kralupy and Litvinov to the Transalpine oil pipeline and the connecting MERO pipeline.

The TAL is the only supply artery for refineries in southern Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic from the Mediterranean region and transports crude oil from the port of Trieste via Italy, Austria, and Germany. The capacity expansion of the section (TAL-IG) from Trieste to the Ingolstadt area was essential to meet the additional demand from the Czech Republic.

SNP Schlawien’s advice included legal support for the planning approval process for the capacity increase of the TAL-IG in Germany, the drafting of a cooperation agreement with the investor MERO ČR a. s., the preparation and negotiation of a framework agreement for the procurement of new facilities in Italy and Austria, and legal support for the implementation of the expansion measures.

The Czech government recently announced the successful and timely implementation of the project. This secures the Czech Republic’s crude oil supply in the long term – completely independent of Russian oil.

Advisors to the TAL Group
SNP Schlawien, Munich: Dr. Stefan Dietlmeier (lead / public law advice and all contractual issues); Dr. Wolfgang Heinze (procurement law issues)

Background: Dr. Stefan Dietlmeier has been advising TAL for over 30 years and was involved in the construction of the MERO pipeline after 1993. With his decades of expertise in the planning and implementation of pipeline energy projects, he has now also made an important contribution to this energy policy initiative.

Press contact

Dr Stefan Dietlmeier
Attorney
Certified specialist in commercial and corporate law
Certified specialist in administrative law

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