Croatia’s Janaf rejects Hungarian government concerns, says it can fully supply Hungary with non-Russian oil

Croatia’s state-backed oil pipeline operator, Janaf, has firmly rejected suggestions that Hungary and Slovakia could face supply disruptions, stating that it is already transporting significant volumes of non-Russian crude and is capable of fully meeting both countries’ needs.

In a statement released on Friday, the company stressed that “partnership and reliability” are its core business values and said its operations continue to ensure stable crude supplies to refiners in the region, Mfor writes.

According to Janaf, large quantities of non-Russian oil are currently being shipped via the Adria pipeline to the Mol Group, while three additional tankers carrying non-Russian crude are on their way to the terminal at Omišalj. The company said maritime deliveries are arriving regularly and dismissed claims that the two countries are on the brink of fuel shortages as “completely unfounded”.

Tests to prove full replacement of Russian crude

Janaf added that previous tests show the Adria route can “fully cover” the crude oil demand of Hungary and Slovakia. It welcomed Mol’s acceptance of further technical trials, which will be conducted with the involvement of the European Commission.

The Croatian operator has proposed sending up to one million tonnes of crude through the pipeline during a month-long test period to demonstrate capacity.

The debate comes after disruptions along the Druzhba pipeline, historically the main route for Russian oil into Central Europe. Hungarian officials have attributed the situation to political pressure from Ukraine, while Brussels has also weighed in on the issue.

Mol diversifies sources

Meanwhile, Mol says it is actively diversifying supplies. Speaking to Telex, CEO Zsolt Hernádi confirmed the company has ordered crude not only from Russia but also from Saudi Arabia, Norway, Kazakhstan and Libya.

He noted that maritime shipments could arrive later than pipeline deliveries from regional storage hubs, but argued that flexibility is key.

“If we’ve learned anything in the past four years, it’s not to judge based on momentary situations. Every case must be handled with patience and calm,” a senior Mol executive responsible for supply chain management said.

Mol is also working to upgrade its refineries so they can process a wider variety of crude types. The goal, company leaders say, is that by 2027 Mol will be able to decide independently where, when and how much oil to import into the region.

Ongoing tensions

Relations between Mol and Janaf have at times been strained. Disputes have previously emerged over transit fees and pipeline capacity, and Mol’s Slovak subsidiary Slovnaft has asked the European Commission to closely monitor Croatian transport practices, arguing they could increase supply uncertainty.

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