The endpoint of the Druzhba pipeline at the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava. (source: TASR)
Bratislava’s Slovnaft refinery will continue purchasing Russian oil from the Lukoil company, with supplies continuing to flow through the Druzhba pipeline. This pipeline, which passes through Belarus and Ukraine, remains the main conduit for oil from Russia to Slovakia, a crucial resource for Slovnaft’s operations.
The flow of Russian oil to Slovakia ceased earlier this year after Ukraine imposed sanctions on Lukoil ahead of the summer, leaving Slovnaft without its key supplier. The Slovak government called the disruption of supplies through Ukraine a violation of the association agreement with the European Union. However, the European Commission assured Slovakia and Hungary that an energy crisis was not imminent, pointing to alternative supply routes such as the Adria pipeline. Additionally, other Russian companies continued to supply oil through the Druzhba pipeline without interruption.
Slovakia and Hungary remain the only EU countries reliant on Russian oil, but several other EU countries are still one of the largest purchasers of Russian raw materials.
MOL assumes responsibility for oil transportation
The Hungary-based MOL Group, which owns the Bratislava refinery, has since reached an agreement with the pipeline operators. However, the deal comes with a stipulation: MOL must take ownership of the oil while it is still on Belarusian territory, assuming responsibility for its transportation from Belarus through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.
