Hungary, Serbia plan fuel pipeline to strengthen regional energy security

Hungary and Serbia have agreed to construct a petroleum products pipeline in addition to the oil pipeline already being built between the two countries, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced following talks in Belgrade with Serbian Energy Minister Dubravka Žedović‑Khandanović.

According to Szijjártó, whose remarks were broadcast by the M1 television channel, both infrastructure projects are expected to be completed between 2027 and 2028.

“This oil product pipeline will allow us to transport semi-finished oil products for the production of gasoline and diesel fuel as quickly as possible. This will increase the reliability of diesel fuel and gasoline supplies to both Hungary and Serbia,” the minister said.

He emphasised that the new energy projects would enable the oil and petroleum product markets of three landlocked countries — Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia — to operate in coordination. “This will make us much more resistant to Ukrainian-style blackmail,” Szijjártó added.

The Hungarian foreign minister also pointed to recent examples of bilateral energy cooperation. “When the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS) began to experience a shortage of raw materials due to US sanctions, Hungary's MOL doubled its supplies of gasoline and diesel fuel to the neighbouring republic. Now NIS has announced that it is ready to supply 25,000 tons of diesel fuel to Hungary in March to increase the security of its energy supply.”

“Thanks to this, we will be able to work together to prevent Ukraine from causing a crisis in oil supplies to Hungary and prevent interference in the Hungarian parliamentary elections,” the Hungarian foreign minister concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova