Balázs Németh: It is impossible for Hungary to use a different kind of crude oil overnight
“Several EU members and the media want to force a crackdown on the Russian oil embargo this week. People are being harassed by the Western + Polish + Baltic papers, they say “Ordinary countries do not buy Russian crude oil, as there are plenty of other places to get oil.” A few things are worth clarifying again. There is no one kind of crude oil. Others are Russian, North Sea or Libyan…, etc. composition of petroleum.
Russian blended oil, also known as crude oil, has been arriving in Hungary – and several other countries in the region – for decades. Here’s the thing: oil refineries can’t process crude oil of any composition! MOL’s refineries in Százhalombatta and Bratislava are designed to use Russian crude oil “Works”.
At most, it is possible to mix 30-35 percent offshore oil with the Russian, if the composition is more different than normal, an error will occur in the oil refinery. For this reason, it is impossible for Hungary to use a different type of oil overnight.
It will take several years and a lot of money to make MOL’s refineries suitable for processing American-type oil. In the same way e.g. the Germans also have a refinery capable of processing Russian oil. If there was an embargo, it would have to be lifted as well. It was also said that this would cause supply problems for them in the former GDR. It’s not that complicated! Maybe they understand in Brussels too ”
Opening image: Facebook