Orbán Flags Possible External Attack in Hungary’s Refinery Blaze, Directs Officials to Prevent Fuel Price Increases

Overview

• Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said investigators have not ruled out an external strike in the Oct. 21 fire at MOL’s Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta.
• MOL stated it has found no evidence of an attack, and authorities have not determined a cause as the inquiry continues.
• Production at the refinery has been reduced since the blaze, which hit Hungary’s largest fuel facility south of Budapest.
• Orbán referenced Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski’s comments about the Druzhba pipeline, saying he hoped the incident was not similar sabotage.
• The prime minister instructed officials, including Economy Minister Márton Nagy, to press MOL not to raise consumer fuel prices in response to the disruption.