MOL Caught Off Guard by Plan to Shut Down Friendship Crude Oil Pipeline
MOL, the Hungarian state oil and gas company, has denied any knowledge of plans to halt operations on the Druzhba crude oil pipeline. Reports had surfaced claiming that the pipeline, which supplies Russian crude to Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, would be shut down in January. However, MOL stated that they have not been informed of any such plans and that they would be the first to receive any information regarding changes.
The company emphasized that their business relations with Ukraine remain strong, and that oil supplies continue uninterrupted. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak had suggested that stopping flows through the pipeline and excluding Russian energy would impact Moscow’s market.
Czech energy security envoy Vaclav Bartuska explained that a potential halt in oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline would not pose a problem for the Czech Republic. He acknowledged that Ukraine had issued warnings in the past about halting supplies, but noted that this time it may be different.
It remains to be seen whether the Druzhba pipeline will indeed be shut down in January, as reported. MOL and other parties involved are closely monitoring the situation.
