Hungary and Slovakia have announced the commencement of the use of their strategic oil reserves due to supply disruptions from the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline. This route transports Russian oil through Ukrainian territory. This information was shared during a briefing at the European Commission following a meeting of the Oil Coordination Group.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Strategic Reserves and EU Energy Security
European Commission spokesperson for energy Anna-Kaisa Itkonen emphasized that both countries have already started releasing reserves that were created for crisis situations.
“Both Hungary and Slovakia have confirmed that they have begun using their strategic oil reserves. These reserves are maintained by all member states specifically for managing such situations,” she noted.
The European Commission stressed that currently, EU energy security is not at risk, as strategic reserves can cover 90 days of net imports or 61 days of domestic consumption, depending on which figure is larger.
Alternative Routes and Negotiations
Brussels is actively exploring alternative options for oil supply to the region. The main route for Budapest and Bratislava at present is the Adriatic pipeline from Croatia. According to reports from the Croatian side, non-Russian crude oil is already being delivered to Hungary and Slovakia via this route, and additional shipments are heading to the oil terminal in Croatia.
The European Commission noted that there is no longer a need for further use of strategic reserves for Hungary and Slovakia, as they are able to receive sufficient volumes of oil through alternative channels.
The European Commission emphasized that it continues to maintain close contact with the relevant member states and Ukraine, as well as conducting ongoing monitoring of the security of energy resource supply.
During a recent visit to Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Ukraine to repair the damaged infrastructure of the Druzhba pipeline as soon as possible, which was affected by Russian attacks on energy facilities in January. In Brussels, it is emphasized that repair work is being carried out under difficult conditions amid shelling.
President of the European Council António Costa also reported an agreement with Ukraine regarding the assessment of the timeline for restoring oil transit through Druzhba.
At the same time, Slovakia and Hungary are blocking the approval of the 20th sanctions package against Russia and the allocation of a multi-billion euro loan to Ukraine. Both countries insist on maintaining their veto until the transportation of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored.