Hungary and Croatia Clash Over Adria Pipeline Access

Stalled Negotiations on Adria Pipeline Capacity

ZAGREB (Azat TV) – A deepening dispute between Hungary’s MOL Group and Croatia’s state-run pipeline operator Janaf has stalled efforts to utilize the Adria pipeline as a primary alternative for crude oil supplies. The infrastructure, intended to bypass damaged sections of the Druzhba pipeline following the 27 January aerial attack in Ukraine, remains at the center of a complex standoff involving technical testing protocols and European Union sanctions compliance.

The disagreement centers on the implementation of capacity tests that MOL intends to initiate. While the Hungarian energy operator announced plans for a series of interrupted tests spanning three to four phases over the next 10 months, Janaf has publicly rejected these terms. The Croatian operator maintains that testing must be conducted continuously over a 30-day period, operating at full capacity to verify the system’s long-term stability and operational capability. As of early March, no formal agreement has been signed regarding these procedures or the appointment of independent experts to oversee the throughput.

The Conflict Over Russian Oil Imports

Beyond technical disagreements, the dispute is heavily influenced by the legal and political status of Russian crude oil. MOL continues to insist that Hungary’s exemption from the 2022 European Union import ban permits the transport of Russian oil through the Adria link. Conversely, Croatian authorities have signaled a firm stance that they will not facilitate the transit of Russian seaborne crude, citing a commitment to uphold the bloc’s sanctions regime.

Financial friction has further complicated the negotiations. MOL has characterized existing Adria pipeline tariffs as prohibitively high compared to other regional routes. Janaf officials have countered this, arguing that the significantly shorter distance of the Adria pipeline makes it a more cost-effective solution, and have questioned whether the dispute is rooted in a desire to maximize profits from discounted Russian supplies rather than genuine infrastructure concerns.

Broader Energy Infrastructure Developments

The friction over the Adria oil link occurs against a backdrop of wider energy integration efforts between the two nations. In a separate development, Croatia has reached a milestone in its natural gas infrastructure with the connection of the Zabok–Lučko pipeline to the existing Rogatec–Zabok international network. Supported by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, this project is part of a broader initiative to expand the Krk Island LNG terminal and increase gas transport capacity toward Hungary, highlighting a disconnect between the successful expansion of gas cooperation and the persistent impasse in oil transit logistics.

While regional gas connectivity continues to expand under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the deadlock over the Adria oil pipeline underscores the difficulty of balancing immediate energy security needs with strict adherence to European Union sanctions policy in the wake of the Druzhba disruption.