A comprehensive testing program aimed at evaluating the operational capacity of Croatia’s JANAF oil pipeline is set to begin on 11 March, following an agreement between MOL Group and the Croatian pipeline operator. The initiative will run for roughly ten months and is designed to provide a clearer picture of how efficiently the infrastructure can operate over extended periods.
The testing campaign will unfold in several phases and will examine the pipeline’s ability to transport crude oil under varying conditions, including seasonal changes and different crude oil blends. Experts will also analyze how the system performs over long-term continuous operations to determine sustainable transport levels.
Initial testing stages will not involve running the pipeline at full throughput. While the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava is currently operating at full capacity, the Danube refinery is still functioning with limited output. As a result, the pipeline’s maximum daily capacity of about 40,000 tons will only be required later in the process, once the refinery’s AV3 unit returns to full operation.
The testing program will extend beyond the pipeline itself. The companies intend to evaluate the entire crude oil logistics chain connected to the Adriatic route. This includes examining port infrastructure, the speed and efficiency of tanker unloading, and the system’s ability to handle blending of different crude oil types.
An independent international supervisory team will monitor the process. MOL plans to involve specialists from the United States, while JANAF will bring in experts from Germany to oversee and verify the testing procedures.
According to MOL, the initiative is intended to provide objective data about the pipeline’s true capacity and operational reliability, which could play an important role in strengthening energy supply security across the region. In recent years, public estimates in Croatia have suggested the pipeline could transport between 11 and 15 million tons of crude oil annually, although the highest volume ever transported through this route has been about 2.2 million tons.
Results from the testing program are expected to be assessed in early 2027. The findings could help clarify the long-standing debate over the pipeline’s capabilities and identify what additional improvements might be needed for the Adriatic route to operate at its full potential.
At the same time, uncertainty remains around future transport arrangements. MOL Group currently does not have a signed oil transit agreement with JANAF for 2026, and the delay in concluding a new contract continues to add legal and operational uncertainty to the existing supply situation.
