Croatia’s Plenkovic Skeptical on Hungary’s Oil Pipeline Request

Andrej Plenkovic, Croatia's prime minister, at an informal European Union (EU) leaders retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Rijkhoven, Belgium, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. EU leaders are to discuss ways to bolster the single market amid new geoeconomic challenges. Photographer: Simon Wohlfahrt/Bloomberg Photo by Simon Wohlfahrt /BloombergArticle content(Bloomberg) — Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic dampened expectations that Hungary could use a pipeline controlled by his country to help replace Russian oil supplies halted by a blockage in Ukraine.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentOil transit along the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary has been halted since late last month amid large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Mol Group, Hungary’s largest energy company, said no oil has been delivered via Ukraine since Jan. 27.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentPlenkovic was speaking shortly after Mol said it had asked its government to release strategic oil reserves to keep its refineries operating. Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentHe said he would consider Hungary’s request to import Russian crude oil via Croatian ports and pipelines. He added Croatia will see how it can fulfill its neighborly role while respecting European Union and US bans on Russian crude.Article content“There is an exemption that allows Hungary to buy Russian crude but there is also a system of US sanctions that says something completely opposite,” Plenkovic said Monday.Article contentTo access enough oil, Mol has started supplying its refineries with seaborne crude. However, these shipments are only expected to arrive at the port of Omisalj in Croatia in early March, according to the company, and it will then take 5-12 days for the oil to reach its refineries.Article contentHungary relies on the Druzhba pipeline for most of its oil flows and has accused Ukraine of using it for political leverage. The country will need to release around 250,000 tons of reserves if flows through the pipeline are not resumed in coming days, Mol said Monday.Article contentArticle contentJanaf, Croatia’s state-owned pipeline operator, is already transporting non-Russian crude to Mol refineries in Hungary and Slovakia. In recent months, Mol repeatedly complained about Janaf’s capacity and higher-than-usual costs, charges that Janaf has rejected.Article contentPlenkovic said that the current situation shows that Janaf has been able to satisfy Hungarian import needs all along.Article contentIt “confirms what Croatia has been saying all along, that the Hungarian exemption to get crude from Russia is entirely unnecessary,” he said.Article contentEnergy policy featured in talks between Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Budapest on Monday. Rubio said Hungary’s exemption from US sanctions were testimony to the warmth of President Donald Trump’s feelings towards Orban.Article content—With assistance from Andrey Lemeshko.Article contentTrending Subscriber only. 'We need to wake up': Atlantic Canada a microcosm of the problems facing the rest of the country Subscriber only Economy Stellantis Canada CEO says sale of Ontario battery plant was due to poor EV demand Commodities Canadians Say They'll Buy Cheaper Chinese EVs as Tariffs Drop PMN Business David Rosenberg: Memo to Mark Carney: Don’t bring a butter knife to an economic gun fight Economy Subscriber only. Donald Trump plans to roll back tariffs on steel and aluminium goods Subscriber only Financial Times Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. 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