MOL Group CEO Zsolt Hernadi has dismissed claims that the recent fire at the company’s Danube refinery in Százhalombatta was the result of sabotage or politically motivated interference, stating that the incident was caused solely by a technical malfunction. The fire, which occurred on 20 October, originated within the refinery’s interconnected processing units and was unrelated to any external actions, he said.
Hernadi emphasized that large industrial complexes of this scale operate with more than twenty interdependent systems, covering crude oil refining, petrochemicals and pharmaceutical production. Despite strict safety protocols, he noted, it is impossible to eliminate all operational risks. He added that the fire caused no injuries and remained within environmental safety limits. Repair teams are currently dismantling and replacing damaged equipment while the investigation continues.
Addressing broader regional energy issues, Hernadi commented on recent talks between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and U.S. President Donald Trump, saying the United States shows a better understanding of Central Europe’s energy constraints than the European Union. He criticized the EU for applying uniform sanctions and energy policies without considering the geographical and infrastructural limits faced by landlocked countries such as Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia.
Hernadi warned that upcoming EU bans on Russian oil and gas, set for 2026 and 2027, disregard technical realities and could threaten the region’s energy security. He also expressed concern over the safety of the Druzhba pipeline — Hungary’s main crude supply route — pointing to recent attacks on the pipeline’s Russian section that caused fires at compressor stations.
Should Druzhba become inoperable, Central Europe would be forced to rely solely on Croatia’s JANAF pipeline. Hernadi questioned whether this route could be considered reliable, recalling that Croatia doubled its transit fees in 2022 and expressing doubt that JANAF’s stated capacity of 15 million tons per year could supply both Hungarian and Slovak refineries simultaneously.
He concluded that the refinery fire — caused by a technical failure — underscores the vulnerability of the region’s energy infrastructure, and called for pragmatic, region-specific solutions to enhance energy security and resilience in Central Europe.
