Prime Minister comments on MOL's request to allow the transport of Russian oil

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković commented on the Hungarian MOL Oil Company's request to the Adriatic Pipeline JANAF to allow the transport of Russian oil to Hungary, after the Druzhba pipeline was damaged in Russian attacks. 

The European Commission has left it up to Croatia to decide whether to let the oil pass through the Adriatic pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia. MOL has threatened to file a claim for compensation if Croatia does not do so.

“Our services, responsible ministries and those involved with sanction regimes are talking to European Commission services and with the American administration, because there are two sanction regimes, one is European and the other American, OFAC, in order to see if the oil that MOL has announced falls under limitations according to these sanction regimes. After that we will make a decision. At this moment we are evaluating the situation but we are here and the point of what I am saying is that, in essence, besides the cheaper price of Russian oil, Russian oil in its essence not needed by Hungary or Slovakia. This is about their political choice to acquire cheaper Russian oil from Putin,” said Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

JANAF CEO Stjepan Adanić reiterated that Croatia can meet all the needs of Hungary and Slovakia with non-Russian oil.

“We as the Adriatic Pipeline act in accordance with sanctions of the EU and USA, and we will adhere to this. In the same manner we act in accordance with decisions and policies of the Croatian government in this regard. I would like to emphasize that we can satisfy all the needs of Hungary and Slovakia for non-Russian oil, and we are currently receiving that oil. We have eight tankers of non-Russian oil announced for unloading at the Omišalj terminal. We have already issued a permit for those ships and the first three arrived, a few days ago we also unloaded a ship with non-Russian oil. We check this along with the customs administration and harbor master's office,” said Adanić.

Source: HRT