https://sputnikglobe.com/20251030/orban-does-not-rule-out-that-fire-at-mol-refinery-caused-by-external-factor-1123036297.html
Orban: External Factor Might Be Behind MOL Refinery Fire
Orban: External Factor Might Be Behind MOL Refinery Fire
Sputnik International
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that the investigation into the fire at the MOL refinery in Szazhalombatta was underway, not ruling out that the incident was caused by an external factor.
2025-10-30T09:47+0000
2025-10-30T09:47+0000
2025-10-30T10:35+0000
world
viktor orban
hungary
slovakia
europe
oil refinery
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/0a/18/1123010233_0:0:2837:1595_1920x0_80_0_0_dc765e03a23d2a1f795d5e7a8109e9dd.jpg
"Last evening, I heard the Interior Minister's report on the incident at the Szazhalombatta oil refinery. The investigation is in full swing. We do not yet know what caused it: an accident, a malfunction, or an external attack," Orban said on social media.The MOL refinery in Szazhalombatta, located about 30 kilometers south of Budapest on the banks of the Danube, is one of Hungary’s five most strategic industrial facilities and operates primarily on Russian crude. The refinery supplies fuel to several Central European countries, including Slovakia. A major fire broke out at the site on the night of October 21, leading to a reduction in production. Orban noted that Poland’s foreign minister had earlier suggested that Ukraine should target the Druzhba oil pipeline, adding, “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.” He also said gasoline prices had already risen following the incident and instructed Economy Minister Marton Nagy to meet with MOL executives, emphasizing that the company must not offset losses by raising consumer fuel prices.The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, but suspicions of possible sabotage emerged immediately, given previous Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure aimed at disrupting the flow of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Ukraine, together with Brussels, has been pressuring both Budapest and Bratislava to abandon Russian oil and gas supplies.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20251023/refinery-fires-in-europe-are-part-of-eu-crusade-against-russian-oil-and-gas-1123006344.html
hungary
slovakia
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2025
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
News
en_EN
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/0a/18/1123010233_156:0:2511:1766_1920x0_80_0_0_306634a02088bb431f7ed87c2a565d80.jpgSputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
viktor orban, hungary, mol refinery fire, szazhalombatta, refinery explosion, hungary news, external attack, refinery investigation, hungarian prime minister, oil industry, energy security, european energy, fire investigation, mol group, hungarian politics
viktor orban, hungary, mol refinery fire, szazhalombatta, refinery explosion, hungary news, external attack, refinery investigation, hungarian prime minister, oil industry, energy security, european energy, fire investigation, mol group, hungarian politics
Orban: External Factor Might Be Behind MOL Refinery Fire
09:47 GMT 30.10.2025 (Updated: 10:35 GMT 30.10.2025) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that the investigation into the fire at the MOL refinery in Szazhalombatta was underway, not ruling out that the incident was caused by an external factor.
"Last evening, I heard the Interior Minister's report on the incident at the Szazhalombatta oil refinery. The investigation is in full swing. We do not yet know what caused it: an accident, a malfunction, or an external attack," Orban said on social media.
The MOL refinery in Szazhalombatta, located about 30 kilometers south of Budapest on the banks of the Danube, is one of Hungary’s five most strategic industrial facilities and operates primarily on Russian crude. The refinery supplies fuel to several Central European countries, including Slovakia. A major fire broke out at the site on the night of October 21, leading to a reduction in production.
Orban noted that Poland’s foreign minister had earlier suggested that Ukraine should target the Druzhba oil pipeline, adding, “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.” He also said gasoline prices had already risen following the incident and instructed Economy Minister Marton Nagy to meet with MOL executives, emphasizing that the company must not offset losses by raising consumer fuel prices.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, but suspicions of possible sabotage emerged immediately, given previous Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure aimed at disrupting the flow of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Ukraine, together with Brussels, has been pressuring both Budapest and Bratislava to abandon Russian oil and gas supplies.