Hungary and Slovakia to build new pipeline between MOL refineries
Slovak Economy Minister Denys Sáková and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó (Photo: Peter Szijjarto / X)
Hungary plans to build a new oil products pipeline by the second half of 2027 linking refineries owned by MOL in Bratislava, Slovakia, and Százhalombatta, Hungary, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on X on March 18.
“We signed an agreement with [Slovakia’s] Economy Minister Denisa Sakova on a 127-kilometer pipeline that will transport up to 1.5 million tons of diesel fuel and gasoline annually, with construction expected to be completed in the first half of next year,” Szijjarto said. He added that such a direct connection would best protect Hungary and Slovakia from disruptions “caused by wars, Brussels’ energy policy and blackmail from Ukraine, which we are currently facing.”
As reported, a Russian attack on Jan. 27 caused significant damage to the technological and auxiliary equipment of the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
Following this, Ukraine halted oil transit through the pipeline. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Kyiv of artificially stopping supplies and engaging in “blackmail.” In response, they have blocked diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine through their territory.
Hungary has also blocked the allocation of a 90 billion euro EU loan to Ukraine.
On March 17, the European Union offered Ukraine technical support and funding to repair the Druzhba pipeline. Kyiv accepted the proposal.
It was also reported that a delegation of European engineers is expected to arrive in Ukraine on March 18 to assess the damage to the Druzhba pipeline.
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