Hungary’s state-owned oil and gas company, MOL, has unexpectedly moved to acquire a stake in the Croatian oil pipeline operator Janaf, a proposal swiftly rejected by the Croatian government, underscoring ongoing tensions over regional energy supply.

The Adriatic pipeline, operated by Janaf, represents a vital potential alternative to Hungary’s reliance on Russia’s Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline, a necessity amplified by the war in Ukraine and EU sanctions. 

However, Budapest has long maintained that the Croatian section cannot fully meet the needs of Hungarian and Slovakian refineries and that transit fees are unjustifiably high.

Following talks in Zagreb this week focused on supply capacity, MOL announced Thursday it was seeking an ownership stake in Janaf. The company argued this Western European model would ensure fairer pricing and a more reliable supply for users like refineries.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković firmly dismissed the proposal, stating that “The Adriatic oil pipeline is not for sale,” emphasizing that it was Croatian and would remain Croatian. 

Plenković affirmed Croatia’s commitment to strong commercial relations with MOL, guaranteeing stable oil deliveries at fair prices, but insisted ownership issues were “not on the agenda.” He stressed that Janaf is fully capable of supplying MOL’s refineries in both Hungary and Slovakia.

Janaf management previously stated the system has a capacity of up to 14.7 million tons of crude oil per year, theoretically enough to cover the demand of both countries. However, MOL stated last month that recent tests did not prove that Janaf was capable of supplying the required volume of oil.  

Responding to the developments, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó reiterated that Hungary's energy policy cannot depend on a single route, reaffirming that diversification remains the cornerstone of the country's energy security. 

He repeated claims that the Adriatic pipeline is currently insufficient to fully supply both nations and that Croatia’s transit fees have risen “to several times the European average.”

Janaf board member Vladislav Veselica noted the company is open to proposals for future cooperation based on “best international practices” and aims to reach an agreement with MOL in the coming weeks.