Take-or-pay terms for 2026 crude oil transport
Croatian pipeline operator JANAF and Hungary’s MOL Group have formalised a take-or-pay agreement for crude oil transportation covering 2.05 million tonnes during 2026. The contract runs from 1 January to 31 December 2026. Under the take-or-pay structure, MOL must pay for reserved pipeline capacity even if it transports less than the contracted volume. The deal provides JANAF with revenue visibility while keeping MOL access to infrastructure linking the Adriatic coast with its refining system.
Tariff and capacity dispute precedes the deal
The agreement follows a prolonged disagreement over tariffs and technical capacity between the parties. MOL said JANAF’s transportation charges were excessive and questioned whether the Croatian system could reliably supply volumes required by its refineries. JANAF responded that its tariff methodology was transparent, distance-based, and applied equally to customers. It also said lower unit charges were available for customers reserving larger capacity.
Druzhba disruption lifts importance of Adriatic supply
The dispute has taken on strategic significance as Ukraine’s restrictions on Russian crude transit have weakened the security of the Druzhba pipeline. In that context, the Adriatic route has become a more prominent diversification corridor for Hungary and Slovakia. The route begins at the Omišalj terminal on the island of Krk.
Political disagreement continues alongside commercial pricing
The commercial arrangement does not resolve the underlying political disagreement between Croatia and Hungary. Hungarian officials have accused Croatia of using regional supply insecurity to impose high transit fees. Zagreb rejected that claim and described JANAF’s charges as normal commercial pricing for a system requiring maintenance, storage, and capacity investment.
Implications for infrastructure use and refinery operations
For JANAF, the contract is intended to strengthen throughput and reduce the risk of underutilised infrastructure. Take-or-pay revenue can be used for maintenance and potential upgrades, but future investment depends on whether Central European refiners commit to using the Adriatic route beyond short-term geopolitical needs. MOL also faces logistics trade-offs when importing crude through the Mediterranean rather than alternative routes. Refineries configured around Russian-grade crude may need blending, technical adjustments, and changes to product yields when processing alternative feedstocks.
