Slovakia halts diesel exports to Ukraine after shutdown of Druzhba oil pipeline
The Slovak government has allocated 250,000 tonnes of oil from the State Material Reserve for the production of fuel for the country's domestic needs following the interruption of the Druzhba oil pipeline near the Ukrainian city of Brody in Lviv region, according to the Slovak government's website.
"The government today adopted a decision to release 250,000 tonnes of oil from the State Material Reserve, which will allow Slovnaft, a.s. to produce products for the needs of the Slovak Republic for at least the next month," Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said after the government meeting.
The statement notes that Slovnaft is seeking alternative sources of oil supply to reduce dependence on Russia, with the main alternative being the Adria pipeline from the Croatian coast. Fico also assured that Slovakia will not face a shortage of oil products, but Slovnaft is currently suspending exports of oil products to Ukraine and other export operations.
"Everything that will be produced will be intended for the Slovak market," the Slovak prime minister said.
It is also reported that Fico discussed the situation around the Druzhba pipeline with Slovakia's ambassador to Ukraine and announced his intention to propose that the ambassador request permission to visit Brody. "Not only him, but also a group of experts from Slovakia, so that we can see with our own eyes what happened there, whether the damage is as Ukraine claims, or whether it is fabricated, since our intelligence reports that everything has been repaired and is technically ready for oil supply. We will also ask the European Commission to send a monitoring group to verify what actually happened in Brody, because if this is political blackmail, as in the case of gas, then it is absolutely unacceptable," the Slovak prime minister said.
According to Slovak media, Fico also stated that Slovakia may halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. "We can decide to withdraw from the electricity supply agreement," he said.
As reported earlier, Hungary had already suspended diesel exports to Ukraine until the transit of Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored, Hungarian State Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Relations Zoltán Kovács said. In his view, Ukraine "for purely political reasons unilaterally stopped deliveries on 27 January, although technically their restoration is possible."
He also said that Hungary currently has 96 days' worth of strategic oil reserves, as well as 500,000 tonnes of Russian oil ordered by MOL, which could become available by the middle of March if Croatia complies with EU rules.
It was previously reported that Hungary and Slovakia had asked Croatia to allow the supply of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia through the Adria pipeline. Meanwhile, Slovakia declared a state of emergency in the oil sector due to the lack of oil supplies.
Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar, however, stated that the Adria pipeline is ready for operation, but that no EU country has any technical justification left for remaining dependent on Russian crude oil. "A barrel bought from Russia may seem cheaper for some countries, but it helps finance the war and attacks on the Ukrainian people," he said.
The transport of Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline via Ukraine has been halted since the end of last month due to large‑scale Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
