Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
4h ago

EU Moves to Impose Tariffs on Russian Oil Routed Through Hungary and Slovakia

Temporary pipeline exemptions leave Hungary and Slovakia reliant on Russian crude.

A general view of a Slovak gas station called Slovnaft, which is owned by MOL, Hungary's national oil and gas conglomerate, near Sturovo, Slovakia, on Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
A general view of the entrance of MOL's Danube refinery which produces fuel from Russian crude oil in Százhalombatta, Hungary, on Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
A car enters a Slovak gas station called Slovnaft, which is owned by MOL, Hungary's national oil and gas conglomerate, near Sturovo, Slovakia, on Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
A general view of MOL's Danube refinery which produces fuel from Russian crude oil in Százhalombatta, Hungary, on Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Overview

  • Brussels is preparing tariffs on Russian oil entering the bloc via the Druzhba pipeline routes through Hungary and Slovakia.
  • Pipeline deliveries to the two landlocked countries continue under a temporary EU exemption designed to avert energy shortages.
  • EU crude imports from Russia are down to about 3% by 2024, yet CREA estimates the bloc still spent €1.15bn on Russian fossil fuels in August.
  • August purchases were concentrated in a few buyers led by Hungary (€416m) and Slovakia (€275m), followed by France, the Netherlands and Belgium.
  • Replacement routes remain disputed as MOL says Croatia’s Adria pipeline cannot cover Hungary and Slovakia’s needs, Janaf says it can, and MOL targets end-2026 for diversification upgrades while Russia sells more to China, India and Türkiye.