In the middle of the week, three Central European countries were on the brink when the pipeline that supplies them Russian oil. The incident is further proof of the fragility of the oil supply in Europe. The developments, although resolved, portend a possible further escalation of the “oil war” between Moscow and European buyers.

The authorities of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia confirmed in the middle of the week the cessation of flow in the Russian oil pipeline. Three states that are completely dependent on Russian oil to run their industries were exempt from the EU decision. which will ban the import of Russian oil in the coming months.

At the center of the confrontation was the southern section of the pipeline, built during the Cold War and bearing the symbolic name “Friendship”, which means “friendship” in Russian. The pipeline delivers oil from the Urals to Central Europe. The reason for the “closing of the tap” was, according to the Russian state company Transneft, which manages the Russian section of the pipeline, the refusal of the Ukrainian company Ukrtransnafta to charge for the transit of Russian oil through Ukraine to Central Europe. . The Russian company blamed the development of sanctions imposed by the EU. in Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine.

Warning

In three EU countries, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the flow of “black gold” through the Russian pipeline was interrupted by the middle of the week.

In order not to starve the energy industries of the three countries, the Hungarian pipeline operator MOL was forced to pay its own contributions to Ukraine. At the same time, Czech Trade and Industry Minister Josef Sikela warned in a Twitter post that it would only be known in the coming days whether we were facing a new escalation of the “energy war” unleashed by Russia. . Earlier, representatives of the three states were looking for alternative solutions for the supply of oil to their countries with IHS Markit, offering to transport it through another oil pipeline passing through the Adriatic. However, the volumes of “black gold” that could get to Slovakia and Hungary, in this case, would not be enough to cover the deficit. As of January, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia are estimated to receive about 250,000 barrels of Russian oil per day through the Filia pipeline.

However, the Minister of Economy of Slovakia, Richard Sulik, stressed at a press conference that the decision provided by MOL is completely temporary, but assured citizens that there are no political motives or framework that caused the interruption. At the same time, he expressed surprise at the toll collection problems, saying: “I have the impression that since the import of Russian oil is allowed, despite the EU sanctions, Moscow is also allowed to collect tolls from it.”

The flow of oil to the Czech Republic is not going to be restored. The management of the Czech refineries Unipetrol announced that they have enough oil, without commenting, however, on the replenishment of reserves through the pipeline.

The news about the interruption in the supply of Russian oil caused an increase in its value on international markets, which, however, receded a few hours later.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown that he intends to use oil taps to increase his influence in the states of Europe. He also showed that with his constant conflicting messages, he wants to create uncertainty among his opponents and, of course, makes a noble effort to sow discord between them. In the spring, Moscow cut off gas supplies to several European countries, including Bulgaria and Poland, and then to Finland. Germany, Italy and France also recorded a reduction in natural gas supplies after the visit of their leaders to Kyiv, as did the Czech Republic. The flow of Russian gas via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany fell by 60% in June, followed by a further decline to 80% in July. Moscow blames the pipeline disruption on a component that was supposed to be replaced by a German company at an industrial plant in Canada, which has strained relations between Berlin and Ottawa.