Crude oil deliveries to Central Europe are expected to resume following the completion of repair works on the Druzhba pipeline, according to confirmation received by MOL Group from Ukrainian operator Ukrtransnafta.
The pipeline, which was previously damaged during the conflict in Ukraine, had suspended Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia since late January. With repairs now completed and the force majeure declaration lifted in late April, the operator has signaled that normal transit flows are ready to restart.
During the interruption, both Hungary and Slovakia were forced to rely on alternative supply arrangements to maintain refinery operations. Authorities authorized temporary withdrawals from strategic oil reserves, allowing MOL and its subsidiary Slovnaft to access emergency volumes. At the same time, shipments via the JANAF pipeline were significantly increased, with Croatia expanding throughput to compensate for the shortfall.
The expected restart of Druzhba flows should gradually reduce dependence on the Adriatic supply route in the coming months. Nearly one million tons of crude oil were transported through JANAF over the past two and a half months, highlighting the route’s ability to partially replace disrupted eastern supplies and meet refinery demand in Hungary and Slovakia.
The disruption also carried a political dimension, as officials in both Hungary and Slovakia criticized delays in repair operations. At the same time, broader negotiations between Ukraine and European partners added further complexity to the situation surrounding energy transit security.
With the pipeline now back in operation, regional oil logistics are expected to stabilize, easing pressure on alternative supply corridors and restoring a key route for crude deliveries to Central European refineries.
