Czech Republic seeks pipeline stake

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The Czech Republic is seeking aid from the United States to buy a stake in the 289-mile Transalpine oil pipeline in an effort to move away from Russia.

Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar met with top U.S. officials to acquire a stake in the pipeline, which is supplied by Czech refineries through a connection to the Ingolstadt-Kralupy-Litvínov pipeline in Central Europe.

"We are negotiating on the exchange of information so that we are not dependent on the sole oil source," Pojar said.

The Transalpine Pipeline brings oil to the Czech Republic from Azerbaijan. Any acquisition could be in exchange for a U.S. missile radar station in the country, Czech daily E15 said Friday.

Czech European Affairs Minister Alexander Vondra said the geopolitical climate in Central Europe prompted the move.

"Some large companies are reassessing their positions in Europe. An opportunity to acquire a certain stake in oil pipelines really can emerge," he said.

The Czech Republic could become an alternate supplier to the region if the acquisition proceeds.