MOL has purchased approximately 510,000 barrels of U.S. crude oil for around $500 million, an amount sufficient to cover roughly one month of refining needs. The deal coincided with the visit of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Budapest. The Hungarian oil and gas company disclosed details of the transaction in response to an inquiry from Világgazdaság.
Responding to questions from the business news site, MOL explained how the new purchase fits into its long-term strategy. The company stressed that oil supply in Hungary and the wider region remains stable. Its strategy focuses on diversification of sources, with shipments arriving in recent periods from countries such as Libya, Kazakhstan, Norway, and Saudi Arabia, now complemented by U.S. supplies.
At the same time, deliveries from multiple sources have highlighted concerns related to the Adria pipeline operated by Croatia’s Janaf.
According to MOL, the system’s current capacity is insufficient to securely meet regional demand when the Danube Refinery is running at full utilization.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that a fire at one of the units of the Százhalombatta refinery last year has reduced processing capacity by roughly half. The company expects the restoration to be completed by the third quarter of 2026. In the coming period, the key priority is to accelerate the necessary manufacturing and construction work.
Oil flare at MOL’s Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta on October 21, 2025, the day after the fire. Photo: MTI/Hegedüs Róbert
MOL also pointed out that, compared to the consistently predictable quality of REBCO (Russian Export Blend Crude Oil), sourcing crude from multiple suppliers entails ongoing risks.
Due to differing physical and chemical properties, for instance, heavier Norwegian crude has proven more difficult to transport and process.
The company aims to return, together with Janaf, to the originally agreed testing conditions. This would involve examining the full length of the Adria pipeline under various weather conditions after the refinery has been restored to full capacity. MOL emphasized that it is in everyone’s interest to obtain a reliable and accurate picture of the pipeline’s actual performance, an effort also supported by the European Commission.
Via Világgazdaság, Featured image: MTI/Hegedüs Róbert
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