Hungary and Slovakia have agreed to construct a new fuel pipeline linking their refineries in a move aimed at strengthening regional energy security and reducing dependence on transit routes affected by geopolitical tensions, particularly Ukraine’s blockade of the key Druzhba pipeline.

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced the agreement on Monday, 16 March, in Brussels following a meeting of EU foreign ministers. According to a statement from the ministry, the deal was signed with Slovak Minister of Economy Denisa Saková.

The project will connect the refineries in Bratislava and Százhalombatta through a 127-kilometre pipeline designed to transport up to 1.5 million tonnes of petroleum products annually, including diesel and petrol.

Szijjártó emphasized that the new infrastructure would significantly enhance the resilience of Hungary’s energy supply, particularly in the face of ongoing geopolitical disruptions and what he described as flawed policy decisions in Brussels.

‘This pipeline will represent added value for Hungary’s energy security, especially in terms of diesel supply, and will help mitigate the effects of global conflicts and misguided policies from Brussels,’ he stated.

The minister added that construction is expected to be completed in the first half of next year, enabling direct fuel transfers between the two refineries. This, he argued, would provide both Hungary and Slovakia with greater protection against external pressure on energy transit routes.

‘By enabling direct diesel and petrol deliveries between Bratislava and Százhalombatta, this project will make both countries much more resilient to forms of pressure such as those we are currently experiencing from Ukraine, with the backing of Berlin and Brussels,’ Szijjártó said.

Oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline has been halted since 27 January, threatening both Hungarian and Slovak energy security. In response to what Hungarian government officials describe as an oil blockade by Kyiv, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked the €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine.

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