Hungary plans to set up emergency fuel stations in case of an oil crisis

The Hungarian government has prepared a draft law that will enable it to designate so-called emergency filling stations to supply important customers with fuel in an emergency. This is in response to the risks following the fire at the MOL refinery in Dunaj and the expected US sanctions against the Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft, which will come into force next month.

The new legislation is set to come into force on January 1, 2026, and will allow the government to introduce an emergency mode for fuel distribution by decree, with priorities being set among the most important consumers.

The aim is to ensure the continuity of state operations and reduce administrative burdens. The law does not apply to normal retail customers.

The Dunaj refinery, which mainly processes Russian oil from the Druzhba pipeline, is an important supplier of petroleum products to Hungary. It is operating at reduced capacity following a recent fire.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán plans to visit US President Donald Trump in Washington on November 7, where he will ask for an exemption from the sanctions and discuss the possibilities for resuming dialogue between the US and Russia.

(reuters, max)