Finance
Refiner MOL complains to EU over croatian pipeline fees
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 13, 2026
Quick Summary
Hungary’s MOL and Slovak subsidiary Slovnaft have lodged a complaint with the European Commission accusing Croatia’s pipeline operator JANAF of abusive, excessive pricing—charging up to 3–4× fair-market transit fees—as Russia-bound flows via the Druzhba pipeline remain disrupted since January.
MOL Files Complaint With EU Over Rising Croatian Pipeline Fees and Access
Background and Details of the Complaint
MOL and Slovnaft's Action Against JANAF
BUDAPEST, March 13 (Reuters) - Hungarian refiner MOL said on Friday it and subsidiary Slovnaft had filed a complaint with the European Commission over Croatian pipeline operator JANAF's pricing policy.
It follows a complaint MOL filed last week with the EU's competition watchdog over JANAF's refusal to deliver Russian crude to MOL and its Slovak subsidiary.
Impact of Druzhba Pipeline Outage
An outage since January on the Druzhba pipeline delivering Russian oil via Ukraine has left landlocked Hungary and Slovakia reliant on oil supply via JANAF.
Allegations of Abusive Pricing
"JANAF has consistently applied abusive pricing practices," MOL said in its latest complaint, adding its orders by volume had increased by one and a half times while JANAF's fees had nearly doubled.
Concerns Over Fee Increases
"The fee increases imposed by JANAF are excessive compared to its costs and cannot be objectively justified."
Response and Broader Context
Janaf did not immediately to a request for comment.
Hungary and Slovakia hold exemptions to EU restrictions on Russian oil imports.
MOL is allowed to source Russian seaborne crude if the Druzhba pipeline is inoperable, the company has said.
Croatia has expressed its willingness to help supply crude, but has baulked at sending Russian crude via the JANAF's pipeline.
(Reporting by Anita Komuves; writing by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; editing by Jason Neely)
Key Takeaways
- •MOL and Slovnaft filed antitrust complaints with the European Commission over JANAF’s alleged inflated transit tariffs—claimed to be three to four times higher than comparable pipelines like TAL.
- •The pricing dispute emerges amid a disruption of Russian crude deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, prompting reliance on JANAF’s Adriatic route, which MOL deems uneconomical and unjustified.
- •JANAF defends its pricing methodology, stating fees reflect negotiated volume, distance and utilization factors, and asserts energy security for Hungary and Slovakia remains intact.
Frequently Asked Questions about Refiner MOL complains to EU over Croatian pipeline fees
1Why did MOL file a complaint with the European Commission?
MOL filed a complaint over JANAF's allegedly abusive and excessive pipeline fees for transporting crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
2What is the impact of the Druzhba pipeline outage?
The Druzhba pipeline outage has made Hungary and Slovakia rely on the Croatian JANAF pipeline for oil supplies.
3How has JANAF's pricing policy changed according to MOL?
MOL claims JANAF's fees have nearly doubled while volumes ordered increased by 1.5 times, which it says is unjustified.
4Can Hungary and Slovakia still source Russian crude?
Yes, both countries hold exemptions from EU restrictions, allowing them to import Russian oil under certain conditions.
5Has JANAF responded to the complaint from MOL?
As of the report, JANAF had not immediately responded to MOL's allegations regarding the pipeline fees.
