MOL Tests Show Adriatic Pipeline Struggles to Replace Russian Oil Supply

MOL says tests on the Adriatic pipeline failed to show stable long-term capacity, raising doubts over its ability to replace Russian oil for Hungary and Slovakia.

(P&GJ) — Hungary’s MOL Group said fresh tests on the Adria crude oil pipeline, conducted jointly with Croatian operator Janaf, failed to confirm that the system can deliver enough crude to Hungary and Slovakia on a stable basis.

According to MOL, the Croatian section of the line struggled to operate at maximum capacity for more than one to two hours. The trial, part of a months-long testing program launched in September, was intended to determine whether the pipeline can reliably transport up to 40,000 tons of crude per day.

“During the tests, the pipeline was never able to operate with sufficient capacity for more than 1–2 hours,” MOL said. The company added that the Croatian partner had earlier limited the test plan, saying maximum performance could only be held for an hour. Later, the line was shut down for over an hour due to a power supply failure, and further disruptions followed after pressure drops.

MOL stressed the Adria line’s importance as a diversification route for Central Europe. The company has invested more than $170 million in southern infrastructure since before the war in Ukraine, with additional spending in recent years to reduce reliance on the Russian Druzhba system.

“For the southern supply route to be fully functional, the Croatian section must also reach a crude oil transport capacity of 40,000 tons per day or 14 million tons per year,” MOL said, noting that such volumes are needed to ensure regional energy security.