Hungarian PM threatens to block construction of Ukrainian oil storage facilities in Hungary
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar (Getty Images)
Magyar opposes Ukraine's oil storage facilities
Magyar says he will not allow the construction of oil storage facilities for oil from Ukraine on Hungarian territory.
It was previously reported that Naftogaz Group had signed a memorandum with Hungarian company MOL. The agreement concerns the construction of oil product storage facilities in Hungary to meet Ukraine's needs.
The facilities are planned near the Ukrainian-Hungarian border. The goal is to create additional storage capacity outside the zone of Russian strikes.
Péter Magyar said that as long as the Tisza government is in power in Hungary, there will be no Ukrainian oil storage facilities in the country, the outlet reports.
He also said that the previous evening he had informed MOL Chairman Zsolt Hernádi of his position. The politician considers the company's actions unacceptable and expects MOL to remember that the state owns a 25% stake in the company.
The government was not informed
According to the prime minister, MOL began negotiations with Naftogaz on the issue under Viktor Orbán's government. The current government considers it unacceptable that it was not aware of the arrangements.
MOL said that the process is actually still in the early stages of preparation.
As part of the process, the company will examine:
- technical conditions;
- financial conditions;
- regulatory requirements for oil storage in Hungary.
Because the process is still in its early stages, the government has not yet been informed.
Lawmakers also oppose the plans
On September 21, Bence Rétvári, head of the parliamentary faction of the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), made a statement on the issue. He said the Ukrainian side fears that the Russian army could bomb the new oil storage facility.
The lawmaker believes that moving the storage facility to Hungary would pose a threat to national security, particularly to the country's eastern regions.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that oil product storage facilities for Ukraine's needs are planned to be built in Hungary near the Ukrainian-Hungarian border. Naftogaz Group signed a corresponding memorandum with MOL.
It is also worth noting that Magyar said Hungary is not a member of the Carpathian Eight, which seeks to strengthen cooperation among countries in the region.
