The 15th package of EU sanctions against Russia provides an exemption for MOL regarding the export of Russian oil products, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó after the Council of the European Union meeting.
Practically the decision doesn’t directly affect Hungary, but MOL’s subsidiary, Slovnaft and its Czech exports. On 5 December, the repeatedly extended deadline until which diesel and other refined products made from Russian pipeline crude oil could be exported to the Czech market from Slovnaft’s Bratislava refinery expired. According to the decision, the export of these products can continue.
The decision was not unexpected, as the Economy Minister of Slovakia, Denisa Saková already announced after the last meeting of the EU ambassadors that the government had managed to get another six-month exemption.
As part of the 15th package, the Council agreed on 84 listings, which consist of 54 persons and 30 entities. The EU targeted primarily Russian defence companies and shipping companies responsible for the transportation of crude oil and oil products by sea, providing important revenues to the Russian government.
The Council added further vessels to the list of those subject to a port access ban and ban on the provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport. This measure is intended to target non-EU tankers that are part of the so-called shadow fleet circumventing the oil price cap mechanism or support the energy sector of Russia, or vessels that are responsible for transporting military equipment for Russia or involved in the transport of stolen Ukrainian grain.