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Hungary orders Russian oil shipments by sea as Druzhba pipeline remains offline
Hungary’s energy company MOL Group has ordered shipments of Russian crude oil by sea to replace supplies halted on the Barátság (Druzhba) oil pipeline, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced.
Speaking to Index, Szijjártó said the first tankers are expected to arrive at a Croatian port in early March. From there, the oil could reach Hungary and Slovakia within five to ten days, which reduces the need to draw heavily on strategic reserves.
The pipeline, one of Hungary’s main crude supply routes, has been out of operation since late January after it was hit during a Russian attack. Since then, no Russian oil has reached Hungary through the route.
Temporary solution under EU exemption
Szijjártó stressed that both Hungary and Slovakia are legally allowed to continue buying Russian crude under an EU exemption. He added that European rules also permit maritime purchases if pipeline deliveries become impossible.
“We are in the same boat with the Slovaks,” he said, noting that both governments had informed Croatia they would exercise this right.
According to the minister, the maritime deliveries should ensure stable fuel supplies from mid-March without significantly depleting Hungary’s emergency stocks.
According to Economx, State Secretary for Energy Attila Steiner said the government has prepared for the partial release of strategic reserves to guarantee uninterrupted domestic fuel supply while alternative imports are secured.
The Croat backstabbing underlines, how wise a decision it was to not rely solely on the Croat pipeline, and keep the Druzhba on.
Yes, it was very wise.
Croatian populism has been undermined by You-Know-Who.
Fidesz is in in a crisis because they are war profiteers who are no longer getting their kickbacks from Putin’s oil since late January. The elite want their money and therefore they are taking swift measures to resume Russian only oil through Croatia. They could obviously be buying oil from anyone else through Croatia but you don’t get Putin’s kickbacks. Unless there has been some turn of events last I looked the Croatia energy minister on Feb 16th said “Nyet” to Russian oil going through the Adria pipeline.