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Human error may have caused the fire at MOL’s biggest Hungarian refinery
A fire broke out on Monday evening at MOL’s oil refinery in Százhalombatta, which was brought under control by Tuesday with the help of nearly one hundred firefighters. Although part of the facility had to be shut down due to the blaze, experts say Hungary’s fuel supply remains secure and no significant price increases are expected.
Experts Comment on the Százhalombatta Fire
The fire occurred in a unit that plays a key role in the preparation of motor fuels. According to MOL’s official statement, no open-flame work was carried out during the major maintenance or restart of the unit. However, internal sources claim that special operations were being performed at the site. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but energy expert Attila Holoda told Szeretlek Magyarország that human error is most often behind such industrial incidents.
External Causes Have Been Ruled Out
The expert ruled out sabotage or terrorism as possible causes but stressed that without the refinery’s automatic safety systems, the situation could have been far more serious. MOL’s refinery, the largest of its kind in Hungary, has its own specially trained firefighting unit, which immediately began extinguishing the blaze. Their efforts were supported by nearby fire brigades.
The damage assessment has not yet begun, as the facility first needs to cool down. Initial reports suggest that the fire started near a distillation tower, but the most critical equipment does not appear to have suffered permanent damage. If this is confirmed, repairs could be completed within a few weeks; however, in the case of more severe damage, the restoration could take up to six months.